Oscar Watch: Saving Mr. Banks Review

After a winter break hiatus, I am now returning to this blog to write reviews in anticipation of the Academy awards. These reviews will focus on both the films themselves and their chances of winning Oscar gold and will conclude with my personal year in review.

Saving Mr. Banks had a very strong chance of ending up as a special feature on some Mary Poppins Blu-Ray someday. The idea of making an entire movie about the making of a beloved film classic was a risk because there was a chance that it could have no personality of its own. Thankfully for moviegoers Saving Mr. Banks not only has its own personality but is a truly fine film in its own right.

Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of PL Travers, the author of Mary Poppins;. We see scenes of her childhood and inspiration for the book as well as scenes of the older Ms. Travers working and fighting with the Disney company over the rights to her beloved characters. What makes this plot work is that it does well by the woman herself. By deciding to focus very much on her storyline this film becomes more than a making of documentary. We watch as the director slowly unfolds the character of this woman before our eyes and as he does so we slowly come to understand her.

Much credit for this must be given to Emma Thompson who brings Travers to life with a sense of realism that helps us to believe that this is a real person and also a real enigma. This is essential for the film to work the way it does and the acting job of Ms. Thompson helps give the film its life. Tom Hanks also give s a very good performance as Walt Disney. His character is far less of an enigma; he's a good salesman, and as an audience we feel immediately taken in by Hanks' presence. The film manages to both focus on Travers but also focus on the making of this classic film. When the film is at its best it combines these two goals in sequences that work on more than one level.

It isn't perfect though. It is quite a sentimental film and that may not be to everybody's liking and many of the developments that occur are not really unforeseen. There are certainly elements of the story that have been trod on again and again in these types of films and some may protest that it is not all entirely true to what actually happened.

Despite these minor quibbles this movie exceeded my expectations in that it was not just a love letter to Mary Poppins but a good film in its own right. It also made me want to revisit Mary Poppins. I would actually suggest that to get the most out of the film one should view the classic first because there are many nods in this that will be lost if you have not recently seen it. Overall I found this to be an entertaining film that is perfect for the winter season. I don't think it will be nominated for best picture but I do believe that Ms. Thompson deserves at least a nomination as best actress for her performance. 4/5

Gravity (2013) Review

Brendan J. Anderson

From the Opening shots of Gravity you know you are in the hands of great filmmaking. I am very happy to report that this has not been uncommon in 2013 but what makes Gravity special is that it truly feels unique. Gravity tells the story of two astronauts who are detached from their shuttle and who must struggle for survival. The astronauts are played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. This simple premise is perfect for what follows and what follows is simply pure cinema.

Pure cinema was a term coined by the great director Alfred Hitchcock to describe experiences that you can only have in a theater. In a sense experiences that  rely mainly on the visual to gain their art. Gravity is one of these experiences that you need to have in theaters and in the largest theater possible. It is also an experience that needs to be in 3d in order to get its full impact. why? because Gravity is all about immersion. It's about being in the shoes of these astronauts and experiencing the terror and the beauty of the situation.  this is a unique film because all of these filmmaking methods of immersion, which are usually only used to sell more tickets, here play an integral part in the experience of the story.

The script takes this simple presence and really uses it to explore many large ideas. This gives Bullock and Clooney some real material from which they can act. I think it is the simplicity of the premise that allows Gravity, unlike so many of its counterparts in the forms of blockbusters and space operas, to focus on the human sorry and really say something deeper. It's a film that I could see myself watching again, not just for the thrill, but for the story. I've never been a George Clooney fan but here I really thought his performance was exceptional and Bullock deserves a best actress nom.

What makes those performances even more powerful is that they were somewhat unlikely. This is because Gravity has some of the greatest spectacle I have ever seen. It really shows how well today's computers can create a realistic world. You will truly believe you are in space. It is a testament to the script and direction by Cuaron that Gravity works so well and stays so human. It is also a testament to the cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki that the film really makes you feel like you are in space. Gravity will be remembered for years to come and is certainly an early Oscar contender 5/5!