Saving Mr. Banks Blu-ray Review

The Blu Ray presentation of "Saving Mr. Banks" is a striking homage to both the aesthetic of 1960s California and the historical ambiance of the Disney Studios, delivered via an immaculate 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that captures every nuance with precision and clarity. The film's palette is richly adorned with golden tones, and vibrant sepia touches that complement well-saturated skin tones, deep blacks, and vivid primaries, albeit the reds can sometimes appear slightly over-emphasized. The visual experience is further enhanced by the film's intentional use of 35mm film, adding a lush yet sharp texture that aligns perfectly with the Blu-ray format's capabilities. Detailing is exact, featuring clean edges and finely resolved textures amidst a background of light, aesthetically pleasing grain. This grain preserves the filmic quality without detracting from the overall sharpness, making for a picture that feels both historically authentic and visually contemporary.

Contrast levels are consistently high throughout "Saving Mr. Banks," with only minor issues such as a slight crush during darker scenes, which does little to mar the overall visual excellence of this release. The flashback scenes set in Australia enjoy a slightly brighter treatment with mildly subdued colors, effectively distinguishing them as memories and enhancing their narrative significance. The intentional optical softness in certain scenes contributes to the nostalgic feel without compromising on the clarity and sharpness expected from a Blu-ray presentation.

Technically, this Blu Ray release is flawless, with no detected artifacting, banding, or aliasing—supporting its case as a reference-quality video presentation. Disney's decision to shoot on 35mm film pays significant aesthetic dividends, particularly in the crisp renditions of the period-accurate Disney Studios scenes filled with numerous visual references to Disney heritage. Black levels are impressively deep, maintaining detail in darker scenes and contributing to a visual experience that is both engaging and faithful to the filmmaker's vision.

Disney's "Saving Mr. Banks" is presented with an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that offers a nuanced, if not particularly bombastic, auditory experience. The audio design showcases meticulous attention to dialogue clarity and environmental sounds, ensuring every word is intelligible and every background noise contributes to the film's ambience. This careful balance results in a soundscape that is both satisfying and reflective of the movie's subdued narrative energy. The mix prioritizes vocal clarity while still allowing for a pleasing low-frequency presence that, although restrained, effectively enhances the film's more dynamic moments without overwhelming them.

Musical sequences stand out amidst the otherwise gentle audio presentation. The Sherman Brothers' compositions, alongside Thomas Newman's score, are given room to breathe and thrive within the mix, benefiting from a considered use of the surround channels. These elements provide a much-needed lift to the soundtrack, injecting vibrancy into the largely dialogue-driven film. Attention to ambient sounds is evident throughout, with the rear channels subtly enveloping the viewer in a near-tangible setting—particularly during scenes set in Disneyland, which come alive with the palpable buzz of crowds and the distant laughter echoing from rides.

The Blu-ray offers additional audio options catering to a variety of audiences, including a 2.0 English Descriptive Video Service track and 5.1 Dolby tracks in both Spanish and French, complemented by subtitles in English SDH, Spanish, and French. Overall, the audio presentation of "Saving Mr. Banks" is commendable for its clear commitment to quality and its adept handling of both the spoken word and musical elements, creating an immersive listening experience that, while perhaps not audacious in its sound design, is thoroughly rewarding and beautifully executed.

The extra presentation of the "Saving Mr. Banks" Blu-ray offers an engaging assortment of features that delve into the behind-the-scenes world and history of Disney, specifically the creation and cultural impact of "Mary Poppins." The highlight, "From Poppins to the Present," hosted by John Lee Hancock, is a nostalgic journey featuring interviews with family members of Disney employees and commentary on the design aspects of both films. A delightful, albeit short segment, "Let's Go Fly a Kite," shows Richard Sherman leading a heartwarming singalong, epitomizing the collaborative spirit of the cast and crew. The inclusion of three deleted scenes provides additional context and depth, notably the "Nanny Song," which is significant enough to appear on both Blu-ray and DVD releases. Trailers & Sneak Peeks offers previews of related Disney films, rounding out the extras with a peek into other magical worlds.

Extras included in this disc:

• From Poppins to the Present: A featurette that explores the history and development of "Mary Poppins" with insights from production designer Michael Corenblith and interviews.

• Let's Go Fly a Kite: A charming segment where Richard Sherman performs with the film's cast and crew.

• Deleted Scenes: Includes three scenes titled Stargaze, Nanny Song, and Pam Leaves.

• Trailers & Sneak Peeks: Previews of "Maleficent," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Mary Poppins.

The film "Saving Mr. Banks," directed by John Lee Hancock, winds a carefully tailored path through the complex tale of P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), the author behind "Mary Poppins," and Walt Disney's (Tom Hanks) efforts to bring her character to the silver screen. Despite its attempts at historical accuracy, the movie often delves into an overly sanitized and somewhat fictionalized portrayal, particularly in its depiction of the relationship between Travers and Disney. The narrative embellishes the emotional journey of Travers, painting a picture of eventual acceptance and satisfaction with the film adaptation of her work, which starkly contrasts with real-life events where Travers expressed her displeasure towards the Disney adaptation.

The performances by Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks embody with remarkable fidelity the idiosyncrasies and spirit of their real-life counterparts. Thompson's portrayal captures Travers' sharpness and vulnerability, while Hanks brings charm and a persuasive humanity to Walt Disney, offering a less explored insight into the entertainment mogul's character. However, an excessive focus on sentimentality, coupled with frequent flashbacks to Travers' childhood in Australia, muddles the central narrative, drawing attention away from the crux of the creative clash between Travers and the Disney team. Although these flashbacks aim to provide context for Travers' protective nature over Mary Poppins, they often feel intrusive and overlong.

"Saving Mr. Banks" strides confidently in areas of emotional engagement and visual storytelling, showing meticulous attention to period details and infusing scenes with the classic Disney magic that has enamored audiences for generations. Despite its historical liberties, the film succeeds in creating a heartfelt tale that emphasizes optimism over skepticism. Nevertheless, viewers familiar with the actual events may find it difficult to reconcile the film's warmer, reconciliatory ending with the real-life acrimony Travers held towards the adaptation of her work. In essence, while "Saving Mr. Banks" charmingly navigates the story of how "Mary Poppins" came to be a Disney classic, it simultaneously skirts around the more contentious aspects of its genesis, favoring emotional resonance over factual precision.

Saving Mr. Banks" presents an intriguing battle, not just between its central characters Walt Disney and P.L. Travers, but also between the realms of fact and fiction. Enhanced by powerful performances from Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks along with a robust supporting cast, the movie navigates through its narrative tensions and script challenges with commendable grace. Despite the predictability stemming from its historical basis and the somewhat conspicuous title, the film's execution ensures a captivating watch. This is underpinned by the Blu-ray release which excels with a visually stunning video quality and an immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, although it leaves something to be desired in terms of substantial bonus content.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray presentation is praiseworthy. The compelling video quality ensures that viewers can fully appreciate the film's visual nuances, while the solid audio track envelops the audience in the movie's emotive landscape. However, one can't help but feel a slight sense of letdown due to the Blu-ray's scant assortment of extras, which detracts from the overall package for enthusiasts seeking an in-depth exploration of the film's creation and themes.

In conclusion, "Saving Mr. Banks" stands out as a film worthy of attention, bolstered by stellar performances and a strong technical release on Blu-ray. The combination of Thompson's and Hanks' acting prowess with superior audiovisual presentation compensates for the movie's pacing issues and predictable outcome. Nonetheless, the lack of significant special features might leave viewers yearning for more insights into the story behind the story. This Blu-ray is recommended for a rental before purchase, allowing individuals to gauge their own level of engagement with the movie's well-crafted, yet familiar narrative journey.