Review of Saving Mr. Banks (2013) by James W — 02 Jan 2015

Too light and puffy, everything is neat and nit-picky, like a person with obsessive compulsive disorder has checked every frame and setting, making sure each flower is cut to size, each pillow and teddy is upright, its all a bit clean with predictably strong performances but a surprisingly boring script and story.

I hate to say this about Emma Thompson, who normally is phenomenal and she can do no wrong but in Saving Mr. Banks, she seriously over does it as P.L. Travers. The hand gestures are overused, the dramatic behaviour is irritating and the strong voice she puts on feels as if she's constantly saying either "ghastly" or "ugh, disgusting", I really thought Emma Thompson was at her weakest here.

Tom Hanks' performance is predictably strong, I knew what was coming so the surprise or anticipation of his first appearance here was absent, it's only Colin Farrell who makes the best impression, he adds energy and enthusiasm amongst the dryness, as well as Ruth Wilson who does dramatic superbly.

This is a real disappointment, thank god it didn't get any big nominations or awards because it's a sore bore of a movie with it's big stars not doing what they do best.