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Saving Mr. Banks
2013
Comedy, Drama
2h 5m
Author P. L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her eponymous novel. (imdb)
Directed by:
John Lee HancockSaving Mr. Banks
2013
Comedy, Drama
2h 5m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 52.64% from 1489 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
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Rated 24 Nov 2015
85
62nd
A Disneyfied story about a Disneyfied story. Thompson and Hanks are both great, but the blatant historical revisionism (including the melodramatic flashbacks and completely fabricated climax) keep this movie from becoming truly revealing or insightful. Still, it's pleasant enough if you worship at the altar of Disney in general or Mary Poppins in particular.
Rated 24 Nov 2015
Rated 21 Dec 2013
72
30th
This film would be a great barometer for testing one's tolerance and patience for Disneyfied schmaltziness. It's most assuredly cliched and treacly, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sneak up on me emotionally. MVP is of course Thompson. What seems like an overly fussy and obvious performance at first comes back around into something believable and even moving. She's key to this whole thing working at all, and you know what, it eventually does! Period detail and songs are all fun as well.
Rated 21 Dec 2013
Rated 16 Mar 2014
74
63rd
Alternatively saccharine-sweet and total melodrama, Saving Mr. Banks rides a good sense of humor and an incredible lead performance from Emma Thompson for an emotional experience. The Disney whitewashing is quite obviously in effect, though.
Rated 16 Mar 2014
Rated 16 Jan 2014
84
55th
I'm impressed at how the film was able to continuously cut back and forth between the lighter adaptation story and the broodier flashbacks; it happens throughout the whole film and only a couple times does the pacing trip up. Hanks and Thompson are utterly perfect.
Rated 16 Jan 2014
Rated 30 Dec 2013
75
50th
Great performances propel us along a road we've already traveled, but engage us enough to still want to see where we're headed. It was fun watching the song/scriptwriters working on the film. Flashbacks were decent (Farrell does surprisingly well), though too frequent. Ultimately, it's a Disney movie boasting about the magic of Disney movies (which can induce some heavy sighing or eye-rolling), but they've got the chops to back it up. Definitely recommended, especially to fans of Mary Poppins.
Rated 30 Dec 2013
Rated 23 Dec 2013
30
5th
The celebration of Disney schmaltz and saccharine crammed down the viewers throat with depressing flashbacks and caricatures in place of real characters. The flashback scenes showing Travers' childhood make the picture drag and could have been cut completely, and the modern day scenes encourage you to laugh at the awkward DIsney employees trying to deal with a crabby and eccentric woman. If it wasn't for the great Sherman brothers tunes I would have found it completely intolerable.
Rated 23 Dec 2013
Rated 11 Jan 2017
71
38th
I don't understand who thought we needed the making of Mary Poppins with a big budget and some a-list actors. I could see a Walt Disney bio, but this is not one. Either way, this is not great, but it's also not without some entertainment value, just not overflowing with it. Apparently, two of the top mini-reviews for this movie feature the word "saccharine," so I suppose i'll have to as well, in hopes of a plethora of stars...saccharine.
Rated 11 Jan 2017
Rated 13 May 2015
7
49th
Although the reality behind the film's events have been presented with a spoonful of sugar thrown in, "Mr. Banks" is ambiguous and well-crafted enough that even if it appears to be a transparent case of self-congratulation, you'll find that you enjoyed it nonetheless.
Rated 13 May 2015
Rated 15 Feb 2015
60
18th
annoying as shit
Rated 15 Feb 2015
Rated 26 Mar 2014
100
90th
The performances, particularly by Emma Thompson, are spectacular. She really might be my favorite actress of all time. Really enjoyed both the past and "present" segments and I honestly couldn't care if it glosses over or misrepresents the story. It's engaging and great and it brought me to tears more than once.
Rated 26 Mar 2014
Rated 26 Feb 2014
71
50th
Manages to exceed my expectations thanks to Hanks, Thompson and some pretty decent writing.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
Rated 19 Jan 2014
75
40th
We get a somewhat cliche and generic feel-good story here, though it's acted better than I thought (Emma Thompson is a great lead, who brings out the stubborn coldness in her character believably). While we got a lot of references to the movie and songs in it, it surprisingly doesn't actually delve much into Mary Poppins herself, which sort of leaves the ending without tying up a meaning/purpose to the story of the author's life.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
Rated 05 Jan 2014
73
36th
Saccharine, and distorts the source material as much as Mary Poppins it would seem, but it is done well enough to hit its marks and allow the underlying story to show its strengths. The leads are strong, particularly Thompson, which helps as well.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
Rated 04 Jan 2014
85
76th
A great movie if for nothing more than a top notch cast lead my Thompson and Hank's Outstanding performances. Also the score holds up well to the high Thomas Newman standard. Maybe Newman will actually win this year.
Rated 04 Jan 2014
Rated 03 Jan 2014
45
36th
I actually quite liked the "present" portion of the film; in a way, I thought Travers's childhood trauma was conveyed well enough that the flashbacks were completely redundant. I found myself simply not paying attention to them as they seemed to simply be telling me what Thompson had already expressed in her performance. I'd really like to see a movie about Disney himself, though.
Rated 03 Jan 2014
Rated 31 Dec 2013
35
18th
Chim Chim Cher-ee-diculous.The never ending flashbacks may be the tackiest I have seen for a long time even for Disney standards. And sadly Emma Thompson's character is even more annoying than her acting is marvelous.
Rated 31 Dec 2013
Rated 29 Dec 2013
10
2nd
I couldn't stand it. Switched it off after 30 minutes. This is just not for me.
Rated 29 Dec 2013
Rated 27 Dec 2013
5
17th
Honestly, Paul Giamatti's very small role was the only one that interested me. I'm not familiar with Mary Poppins, I mean, I watched when I was a kid, but it isn't memorable, and I will probably not re visit it. I suppose I wasn't the target audience, here.
Rated 27 Dec 2013
Rated 18 Dec 2013
80
82nd
Saving Mr. Banks has scattered content concerns. But it does fly. It has the power to touch both the Travers and Disney sides of all of us. It does not shy away from the sometimes sad realities of life while telling us we need to be prudent in our decisions, moral in our choices and careful in our entertainments. It has its feet on the ground, yet it tells us that it's OK to imagine. To dream. To patch up our broken kites and find a way to soar with them. (pluggedin.com)
Rated 18 Dec 2013
Rated 02 Dec 2013
91
83rd
Maybe the flashbacks are a little overwrought; maybe elements of what happened are whitewashed. But this is still one heck of a movie, a mighty, marvellously-acted companion to Mary Poppins that works simultaneously as behind-the-scenes comedic fluff and honest-to-goodness emotional enhancement. Thompson and Hanks are, of course, great, but Giamatti, Novak, Whitford and Schwartzman do great work in support, too. Very entertaining, and occasionally, profoundly powerful.
Rated 02 Dec 2013
Rated 30 Nov 2013
54
9th
One of the most frustrating films I've ever seen! Great performances from Thompson and Hanks, but an excellent film was ruined by the continual cliched, over-wrought flashbacks to Travers' childhood in Australia.
They should have made 2 films, the 1st called 'The Making of Mary Poppins' which told the story of Travers and Disney, and the 2nd called 'Mary Poppins: Origins'.
Then I could have enjoyed the first film and ignored the 2nd!
As it was I just had to watch both of them at once...
Rated 30 Nov 2013
Rated 14 Oct 2021
83
79th
I'm probably easy touched by movies able to channel emotions and this one makes no exception. I found Thompson and Hanks really convincing in their lead roles a discrete direction fulfil its part coupled by great musics. Disney makes quite a propaganda here and some cliches are notable but my expectations have been exceeded
Rated 14 Oct 2021
Rated 30 Jun 2021
98
85th
Oh man, so good. The Best part is the acting. Thompson, Hanks, Farrell, and Giamatti are incredible. Covers serious topics in a non-traditional Disney way. Matches the innocence of childhood to the hardships of adulthood.
Rated 30 Jun 2021
Rated 17 Apr 2021
2
39th
A little of the flashbacks would have gone a long way, or better yet: just cut them out entirely. Hank's monologue about his youth was much more effective in a fraction of the screen time.
Rated 17 Apr 2021
Rated 10 Aug 2020
84
86th
Much deeper and more emotionally profound than I expected, with impactful character development, an impeccable Emma Thompson performance, and an absolutely brilliant Thomas Newman score.
Rated 10 Aug 2020
Rated 25 Mar 2020
85
65th
I really love this movie. Maybe it's the fact that I love Disney history, but it really is a good movie. I do wish the movie was more honest with the portrayal of P. L. Travers.
Rated 25 Mar 2020
Rated 13 Dec 2019
74
44th
My girlfriend's favorite movie and it's really not all that bad. Fascinating to compare this to It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; a movie that does everything this film does but better.
Rated 13 Dec 2019
Rated 22 Jul 2019
60
25th
Aus1906+Eng1961+toodemandinglol-nocolourred+hadalcoholicdadetc+momshitty-gotsimilarnanny:P+getherdancingthensnapscuzpenguins+savedthefatheretcbreaksdownatpremiere
Rated 22 Jul 2019
Rated 11 Mar 2019
2
14th
Sigh, fine, I’ll be the bad guy - Emma Thompson’s screen presence is super dull and her whole “le jewel of the silver screen” reputation is wholly unearned; people just let themselves get sucked in on that narrative with these slightly older super posh British actresses. She’s a yawn at the center of this film. Even beyond her the film’s events range from overly saccharine to just made up - I don’t know we needed to see how the sausage was made re: Mary Poppins.
Rated 11 Mar 2019
Rated 03 May 2018
79
45th
An intriguing movie that's less a biopic and more of a story. While it does depict real occurrences there are obvious embellishments. People take the movie to task for this but I believe there is a deeper point to it. Sure it can't depict Disney as deceitful or bad and there is bias the story is less about the actual facts of the battle between Walt Disney and PL Travers. The film to me is more about death of the author: when you release a piece of art is it yours anymore?
Rated 03 May 2018
Rated 14 Dec 2017
70
80th
More reviews here : http://movie-freak.be
Rated 14 Dec 2017
Rated 06 Jan 2017
77
49th
Honestly, the best thing this film did was educating me about the goings-on behind the making of "Mary Poppins" (the movie), the Hollywood studio system and writers' rights. Something I had never even questioned before. I didn't care too much for the characters of Emma T. and Tom H., but some of the culture-clash jokes were fun, and particularly liked BJ Novak and J. Schwartzman as the musicians trying to come up with the catchy tunes which brought the book to life. Fun moments in a boring tale.
Rated 06 Jan 2017
Rated 24 Dec 2016
89
29th
OK, it's Disney, so it was always going to be saccharine-sweet, but, I reckon it would have been a lot more sentimental were it not for Emma Thompson. She cuts through the Disneyness, and very welcome she is for that. For me, without Thompson, this movie would have been unwatchable in places, but as it is, it's alright.
Rated 24 Dec 2016
Rated 12 Sep 2016
80
93rd
A great and moving film about a woman rediscovering the simple joys that life has to offer. The story is the standard upbeat positive retelling of events but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. Well acted by everyone involved.
Rated 12 Sep 2016
Rated 14 Apr 2016
64
46th
Loses some charm through heavy-handedness--beside being about as true to events as, say, "Pocahontas."
Rated 14 Apr 2016
Rated 12 Dec 2015
82
76th
2015-12-05
Very enjoyable story around the creation of the Disney movie 'Mary Poppins'
Rated 12 Dec 2015
Rated 15 Jun 2015
8
80th
A wonderfully crafted screenplay carries this touching character-driven drama: The present-time tale of rude and uptight P.L. Travers as she struggles with her book's film adaptation is broken up by beautifully-shot scenes of her tragic childhood that gradually seep into and enlighten the current story as the complexity of her character is unraveled. Standard bits of sentimentality and humour shine bright amidst this deep script and round out a well-acted and thoughtfully written film.
Rated 15 Jun 2015
Rated 28 May 2015
96
43rd
A funny and touching biography. The whole film was excellent, but at the end credits it actually shows the real tapes! It's really cool how they found that!
Rated 28 May 2015
Rated 26 May 2015
75
40th
Very sweet, not so accurate, it really tends to fall into cliches.
Rated 26 May 2015
Rated 15 May 2015
65
29th
Most of the film felt like it didn't know what story it wanted to tell - the making of the Mary Poppins movie or the life story of its author. You find out that there are parallels which tie them together, but the film sloshes it way to that point with repetitive scenes and frequent transitions from present day to flashbacks. Still, there are several touching scenes and solid performances, so it's worth a look.
Rated 15 May 2015
Rated 30 Apr 2015
55
34th
Tom Hanks was awesome as Walt Disney, but the flashback scenes that were necessary to the plot (I guess) and ending made up what felt like more than half of the film and they just weren't as interesting as the making of Marry Poppins portion.
Rated 30 Apr 2015
Rated 22 Apr 2015
4
13th
Thanks to the infinite patience of Walt Disney, P. L. Travers overcomes her daddy issues so that the movie Mary Poppins can be brought unto the world. Huzzah.
Rated 22 Apr 2015
Rated 26 Feb 2015
51
40th
Undoubtedly highly romanticised and mawkish, but actually in most respects quite pleasant. As undeniably self-serving as this is from Disney, it's fairly enjoyable in an "I'll only watch this once" sort of way. Personally I don't find Thompson the most watchable of performers, but she suits the role, and Hanks is fine also. Perhaps one of the films finest assets is the high class support ensemble. Overall it's glossy and overly sweet, but a perfectly amicable couple of hours.
Rated 26 Feb 2015
Rated 11 Feb 2015
75
63rd
A very fun, emotional little movie that works much better if you have a love for both the art of filmmaking itself, and classic Disney. Tom Hanks in the first-ever film representation of Walt Disney genially disappears into the role, and Emma Thompson was robbed of an Oscar nomination for her powerful performance as P. L. Travers.
Rated 11 Feb 2015
Rated 22 Jan 2015
48
40th
disney propaganda. thompson was good though
Rated 22 Jan 2015
Rated 23 Dec 2014
5
18th
Despite being visually colorful this came across as quite dull and I couldn't warm to Emma Thomson s character. Expectations were higher, so disappointing.
Rated 23 Dec 2014
Rated 18 Dec 2014
80
58th
Interesting.
Rated 18 Dec 2014
Rated 26 Nov 2014
76
47th
The film is more about the long effects of failed fathers. Disney and Travers respond to these disappointments in life with imagination and sensitivity. Hanks and Thompson deliver believable characters.
Rated 26 Nov 2014
Rated 03 Nov 2014
70
70th
Stellar cast and excellent acting performances, but a story is sometimes not particularly enjoyable. Emma Thompson is flawless, but her character is uptight, stuffy, demanding and sometimes obnoxious. The flashbacks to her childhood were most interesting. Music and production quality was excellent. The material is saved only by the excellent acting performances and diversions with past events.
Rated 03 Nov 2014
Rated 07 Sep 2014
72
91st
I really really liked this movie. Acting is brilliant from everybody and the story is amazing. Not childish at all and very interesting. 72/100.
Rated 07 Sep 2014
Rated 13 Aug 2014
20
12th
"I fear what's to happen has happened before." There's no other way to say it: This is a complete and total rip-off of the infinitely better "Finding Neverland" (from 9 years prior and in my opinion the best movie of 2004, nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture back when there were only 5 nominees), just with all of the joy and raw emotion and insight ripped from its chest. Also, wouldn't it have made a LOT more sense to do a Disney biopic? Yes, yes it would have.
Rated 13 Aug 2014
Rated 23 Apr 2014
83
66th
Emma Thompson needs more than a spoonful of sugar to lighten up in this very dramatic story of the making of Mary Poppins. Thompson was hard to like due to her Devil Wears Prada Dragon-Lady attitude toward everyone. Paul Giamatti and Tom Hanks brought the love into the harsh film. A good portion of the film you'll hate Mrs. P.L. Travers (Thompson), but once you get a little more of the story you'll warm up to her...
Rated 23 Apr 2014
Rated 21 Apr 2014
88
78th
Watched it with the kids, and we all loved it. Obviously I didn't expect it to tell an accurate history, and I'm sure it doesn't. But I also didn't expect it to be this gripping. The performances were all good (even Hanks' Disney, the weakest of the bunch). And the music was really nicely woven throughout.
Rated 21 Apr 2014
Rated 06 Apr 2014
7
57th
Saving Mr. Banks is saccharine-sweet and borderline forceful, but it's undeniably enjoyable and heartwarming. Considering we all know the outcome, the politics and hurdles Disney had to overcome before Mary Poppins could be adapted from page to screen is surprisingly interesting. What truly carries the film though are the superb performances from Thompson & Hanks. Giamatti is a worthy mention also. The flashbacks lost my attention and felt redundant at times, but otherwise I enjoyed myself.
Rated 06 Apr 2014
Rated 06 Apr 2014
100
93rd
Great movie
Rated 06 Apr 2014
Rated 29 Mar 2014
50
33rd
Wonderful Spielberg-like material -- unfortunately not directed by Spielberg.
Rated 29 Mar 2014
Rated 25 Mar 2014
60
60th
Very well paced. Emma Thompson gave a heartfelt performance, although some of the other cast did not seem as interested in the film as her.
Rated 25 Mar 2014
Rated 24 Mar 2014
70
74th
Emotional yet uneven tale of two storytellers, the power of storytelling, and the capacity of hope. Hanks and Thompson are both brilliant alongside a terrific ensemble cast.
Rated 24 Mar 2014
Rated 15 Mar 2014
60
40th
It was a fun film to watch but felt exaggerated every minute. Still a good watch.
Rated 15 Mar 2014
Rated 07 Mar 2014
65
54th
Emma Thompson is great and quite funny, even if her character is sometimes infuriating. Tom Hanks and the rest of the cast are fine, too. The whole thing was a bit self-congratulatory on the part of Disney, but they have produced magical films and it's all very nice. I think "nice" and "pleasant" are the most apt words to describe the film, really. It's hardly brilliant, but it's harmless and did actually give another dimension to Mary Poppins that I wasn't previously aware of.
Rated 07 Mar 2014
Rated 26 Feb 2014
81
92nd
Sweet, moving, and ever so sentimental, Saving Mr. Banks is driven by fantastic performances and a story well weaved out of the true story to create a wonderful piece of cinema.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
Rated 09 Feb 2014
96
83rd
I adored this movie. I loved the pacing of the present and the past, I loved Tom Hank's portrayal of Walt, and I loved Jason Schwartzman and B.J. Novak as the Sherman brothers-- in fact, all the actors were brilliant. Emma Thompson was fantastic as P. L. Travers. She perfectly balanced her wit, humor, sternness, and sadness. The whole theater was in tears by the end-- one of the few films to actually make me sob.
Rated 09 Feb 2014
Rated 09 Feb 2014
90
59th
1202: i like it !
Rated 09 Feb 2014
Rated 31 Jan 2014
69
46th
Typical saccharine slick Disney production. This is one of the cases where it actually works well though.
Rated 31 Jan 2014
Rated 19 Jan 2014
85
69th
Wonderful performance by Emma Thompson. I was wholly invested in her character and grew to like her character very much, as hard as that may seem. The ending does leave some questions unanswered, but I don't think this holds the movie back from a being called entertaining and something worth watching.
Rated 19 Jan 2014
Rated 12 Jan 2014
75
93rd
Found the flashbacks a little confusing in the beginning, but once I understood what was happening it unfolded into a terrific story. The acting had me fully invested with characters, even found myself singing along with the movie.
Rated 12 Jan 2014
Rated 11 Jan 2014
76
63rd
This film was supposed to win Oscars but I have to say I was underwhelmed by it. I mean, they had to make up a fraudulent scene between P L Travers' driver and her to inject some "heartwarming" elements to the mostly satirical plot. Yes Emma Thompson was funny, she always is, but Tom Hanks does not faithfully evoke Walt Disney. I'm a Boomer who grew up with Disney's Wonderful World of Black and White, and Uncle Walt's real distinctive voice and face are still all too vivid to me. Sorry, Tom Hank
Rated 11 Jan 2014
Rated 11 Jan 2014
81
72nd
While this movie has all the makings of Oscar worthy material, I felt the even pacing of it bored me a bit. I feel this may just be my ADD not appreciating a slower film though. Tom Hanks acted well, but somehow I never bought into him being Walt Disney. Emma Thompson however was at her best.
Rated 11 Jan 2014
Rated 10 Jan 2014
59
62nd
Lovely, sweet, and well-acted movie. Surprisingly, maybe the most moving parts were the scenes between Giamatti and Thompson, who were both fantastic. Although it seems self-serving coming from Disney, and Mrs. Travers' ultimately unaddressed concerns are probably valid critiques of both Mary Poppins and this film, it's nice to see a movie about the power of movies.
Rated 10 Jan 2014
Rated 05 Jan 2014
70
82nd
Very good.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
Rated 03 Jan 2014
85
86th
Really well acted. I appreciated that Hanks didn't try too hard to sound like Disney, but just to get the way he talked. And I love Emma Thompson in practically everything I've seen her in. She is just a gifted actress and I really got a sense of what Mrs. Travers was like. This film made me laugh, and made me cry (as obviously manipulative as it was). It's very well made, and the story was fascinating.
Rated 03 Jan 2014
Rated 02 Jan 2014
73
31st
The (heavily) dramatized story of Walt Disney's (Tom Hanks) attempts to sell P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) on his adaptation of MARY POPPINS is interspersed with scenes of Travers' childhood in Australia with her tragic dreamer of a father (Colin Farrell). Thompson does what she can with a harshly written character, but Hanks and especially Ferrell provide warmth and nuance. The script is rather ridiculous, but the cast and the period detail are hard to fault. For those who enjoy schmaltz.
Rated 02 Jan 2014
Rated 01 Jan 2014
85
89th
Effortlessly engaging. One of the year's most twinkly, upbeat offerings, all good cheer and crowd-pleasing zest and positive messages and a Big Moment at the end where everybody laughs and cries and hugs. I couldn't help it--this thing charmed me to no end, buoyed along in no small part by two perfect lead performances. Disney entertainment at its most appealingly old-fashioned and genteel; irresistible.
Rated 01 Jan 2014
Rated 31 Dec 2013
97
94th
I know it's not based on fact very much, but I still loved every second of it. Mary Poppins is a very meaningful character for me and this was a lovely tribute.
Rated 31 Dec 2013
Rated 27 Dec 2013
60
52nd
This one certainly went down easier with a lot of sugar on. Every bone in my body tells me I should hate it, but Disney has somehow Inceptionized me.
Rated 27 Dec 2013
Rated 25 Dec 2013
90
97th
Amazing movie. Oscars surely for Emma (best actress) and Ralph (best support)her driver. Indeed Farrell also a poss as is best movie! Goodness, how can someone show so much emotion watching a movie....by that I mean Emma at the premier not me watching watching Emma watching a movie...though it was a struggle to keep stiff lipped. Totally engaging!
Rated 25 Dec 2013
Rated 24 Dec 2013
67
32nd
terribly rushed first act, terribly long second act with totally unnecessary flashbacks and all over the place third act with an abrupt end... the only good thing was the original tape at the end...
Rated 24 Dec 2013
Rated 24 Dec 2013
85
86th
while giving me diabetes. SUPER HEAVY flashback scenes placed with current scenes of a lil ol crabapple pissing on Tom Hanks & co. It was a delight.
Rated 24 Dec 2013
Rated 18 Dec 2013
72
64th
A well-acted but somewhat blandly-directed film that seems to have ignored a few key issues that arose in real life in order to create a neat Disney package.
Rated 18 Dec 2013
Rated 01 Dec 2013
85
85th
Say what you like about Disney, but their studios know how to tell a story. The flashback scenes were a little cliched and overly sentimental, but the performances by Farrell and young Buckley were terrific. The main story was handled in a way that made you understand completely just how much these characters meant to Travers, and Thompsons performance was simply riveting to watch. Funny and real. When they start to sing "lets go fly a kite" I dont see how there could be a dry eye in the house.
Rated 01 Dec 2013
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Directed by:
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