This was one of 2013's best films in terms of story, casting, acting, scenery and costuming, and here is why:
Thompson plays Travers, an Australian author of the 1934 book Mary Poppins, who struggles to accept any adaptations Disney and his producers wish to make to her original story. Through a series of flashbacks to Travers' childhood, it becomes clear as to why she is so particular about the portrayal of her characters, as they are based on her beloved parents and governess.
While the process of conceptualizing the Disney classic film is both fascinating and educational, the storyline about the young Travers and her relationship with her father is what makes the movie touching. Colin Farrell plays the role of her whimsical father. Although Farrell is most often cast in bad-boy type parts, he does a phenominal job playing a father to a strong, yet impressionable young girl.
Hanks' performance as Disney is marvelous. From his charisma to his passion for the unique, Hanks really captured the mannerisms and character of the legend. While it wasn't as big of an accomplishment as Hanks' role in Captain Phillips, this role showed his abilities as one of America's most seasoned actors.
Thompson's performance, however, was nothing short of Oscar-worthy. The British actress known for her roles in Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually, truly was P.L. Travers in every way, in the sense that the actress became a translucent vessel, while the character came to life.
The supporting actors in this film also gave a phenomenal performance, especially Paul Giamatti in his role as Ralph, Travers' upbeat driver. His cheery attitude juxtaposed with Travers' seemingly constant negativity made for a delightfully unpredictable combination.
Other honorable mentions go to Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, and Jason Schwartzman playing the men who tried with all of their might to convince Travers' to make her Mary Poppins into the film it is today.
A minor critique of this film is that, for a film about the process that led to the making of Mary Poppins, however, there was hardly any portrayal of the governess upon which the character was based within the flashback scenes. But this was hardly enough to ruin any part of the film.
In addition to the great casting and acting, this film captured the essence of the eras in which it was set, the early 1900s and the 1960s. From the landscapes and lighting to the costumes and accents, this movie has a way of transporting its audience to another period of time.
Grade: A
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