This week’s cinematic fare presents us with two representations of Hollywood; the “dream factory” of yesteryear (Saving Mr. Banks) and the cynical, remake obsessed Tinseltown of today (Carrie).
Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of how Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) eventually convinced Australian author P.L Travers (Emma Thompson) to sell him the film rights to her bestselling children’s book Mary Poppins after years of failed attempts. It’s a must see for anyone who loves classic Hollywood and while it fails to acknowledge the darker side of Uncle Walt (the film itself is a Disney production so no surprise there) this works in the film’s favour. The movie itself looks at how we so often remember the past through a nostalgic lens as Travers recounts her childhood relationship with her father (Colin Farrell), the romantic alcoholic she idolised. For a full review, see the upcoming December issue of NewsFour.
Carrie is the fourth screen adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel and by far the worst. Chloe Grace Moretz is bizarrely miscast in the title role, a 15 year old cast as a 17 year old whose classmates are all played by performers in their twenties. With the current vogue for comic book movies in mind, the film-makers twist King’s tale into a superhero origin story and the result is a dull mess.
Also opening is Free Birds, an animated tale of two turkeys (voiced by Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson) attempting to survive Thanksgiving, and Jeune & Jolie, the latest from acclaimed French director Francois Ozon.
By Eric Hillis
Picture caption: Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in Saving Mr Banks-©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
