What if the man who built a mouse-shaped empire had to wrestle with a woman who guarded her story like a dragon? Saving Mr. Banks (2013) dives into the clash between Walt Disney and P.L. Travers, the prickly creator of Mary Poppins, and it’s a tale that’s as much about healing as it is about Hollywood. Directed by John Lee Hancock, this film isn’t just a nostalgic peek behind the Disney curtain it’s a sharp, soulful look at how art can mend broken pasts, and it resonates deeply in today’s era of personal storytelling.

Emma Thompson’s portrayal of Travers is the film’s beating heart. She’s not just a curmudgeon; she’s a woman armored in grief, her every barbed retort and stiff posture revealing a life scarred by loss. Thompson balances acerbic wit with raw vulnerability, making Travers both infuriating and achingly human. Tom Hanks, as Walt Disney, brings a folksy charm that’s almost too polished his Walt feels like a carefully curated myth, which, while intentional, occasionally skirts caricature. Their chemistry crackles, though, especially in scenes where they spar over creative control, each representing a different kind of stubborn genius.

The film’s visual storytelling, courtesy of cinematographer John Schwartzman, weaves a dual timeline with finesse. The lush, sun-drenched 1960s Hollywood contrasts sharply with the dusty, melancholic flashbacks to Travers’ childhood in rural Australia. These sequences, heavy with sepia tones and haunting silences, ground the film’s emotional weight, though they sometimes linger too long, risking melodrama. Marcel Herrmann Tague’s score, delicate yet stirring, underscores the film’s emotional shifts without overpowering them, a subtle nod to the Mary Poppins music that looms large.

Where Saving Mr. Banks shines is in its exploration of authorship and legacy questions that hit hard in 2025, as audiences crave authentic, personal stories amid a sea of reboots. It asks: who owns a story, and what does it cost to let it go? The film falters slightly in its rose-tinted view of Disney’s empire, glossing over its corporate machinations. Still, it’s a love letter to storytelling’s power to heal, not just entertain. For today’s viewers, it’s a reminder that even the most magical tales come from real, messy lives.

This isn’t a perfect film, but it’s a poignant one, stitching together humor, heart, and history with care. Watch it, and you’ll see Mary Poppins and maybe your own stories through new eyes.