Stranger than Fiction review

 Number 626 on the top 1000 films of all time is an IRS agent who lives a strictly-regimented life. Everything about him is boring. Everyday is the same. That is until he starts hearing author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) narrate his life. When she narrates, he is going to die, he frantically tries to prevent his death. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Queen Latifah and Dustin Hoffman co-star.

Stranger than Fiction covered familiar thematic territory. You never know when you're going to die so you should make the most of the time you have left. It wasn't anything new, but the execution of the film made it feel fresh and original. I've seen almost 800 films on the aforementioned list and I can't remember seeing this plot before. It also led to some funny cases of dramatic irony as Harold Crick desperately tried to catch up to the audience and to Karen Eiffel.

I also thought the two leads were very good. Like many American comedy actors, I find Will Ferrell to be very over-the-top, but in a quieter, more reserved role, he was very good. Like other critics have noted, when comedy actors like Ferrell are given a chance to show their dramatic chops, they always shine.

Emma Thompson was also great as Karen Eiffel - a writer with serious case of writer's block. She has the perfect voice for narration, but was also great in front of the camera too - especially when she realises she ahs been narrating people to their deaths.

Less convincing was Maggie Gyllenhaal as anti-capitalist baker Ana Pascal. After Crick comes to audit her business, she initially seems to rebuff him, adopting an anti-my taxes-going-to-bomb-children attitude. But Crick then falls in love with her. More weirdly, she then falls in love with him. Would an anti-capitalist anarchist fall in love with a very a capitalist government agent? Highly unlikely. The two were not believable together.

It's a shame that the film was marred by this unrealistic relationship, as I did enjoy it. Its premise was highly creative and the lead actors were very good.

Saving Mr Banks review

 Number 488 on the top 1000 films of all time is the biographical drama 'Saving Mr Banks.'

Saving Mr Banks tells the true story of famed Mary Poppins author P.L Travers (Emma Thompson) in the latter stages of her career. Resisting Walt Disney's (Tom Hanks) requests to turn the Mary Poppins books into films for years, Travers finally relents after her dire finances are revealed. She travels to LA to oversee the process. Flashbacks also show her childhood growing up in Australia as well as her troubled relationship with her alcoholic father Travers Goff (Colin Farrell.) B.J Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Giamatti and Ruth Wilson co-star.

As I'm sure you are sick of hearing by now, I am generally not a fan of biopics or period dramas. This is particularly true of films like Saving Mr Banks where I have no interest in the subject matter. I've never given Mary Poppins a second thought beyond it being an entertaining film. I did not expect to enjoy Saving Mr Banks, but I'm glad to say I was proven wrong.

Much of that was down to Emma Thompson's absolutely delightful portrayal of P.L Travers. She really proved why she is a double-Oscar winning actress. Although Disney heavily lobbied for Thompson to receive what would have been her fourth Oscar actress nomination, she ultimately ended up being nominated for the BAFTA best actress award. Either way, she was great as the Mary Poppins author. I loved her portrayal of the author as this uptight, prim-and-proper, no nonsense Brit who soon clashes with the more laidback and easy-going Americans.

Despite that, we see her icy veneer begin to melt as she is worn down by the executives at Disney. This includes Walt Disney but also by her chauffeur Ralph (Paul Giamatti,) screenwriter Don DaGradi (Bradley Whitford,) and composers Richard and Robert Sherman (Jason Schwartzman and B.J Novak.) The actors all had great chemistry together and, despite my general grumpy old manness, I couldn't help but smile along at their antics. This was especially true with Paul Giamatti who was truly endearing as Travers' chauffeur Ralph. Despite Travers' initial hostility, Ralph's optimism never waivers, making him one of the best characters in the film.

Yet beyond the humour and warmth, there was some strong emotional depth. This was saved for the flashback scenes to Travers' childhood where we see her mother Margaret (Ruth Wilson) desperately trying to keep their family and marriage together while her father Travers (Colin Farrell) battles against his alcoholism. Like many alcoholics, he isn't an inherently bad person, but somebody who has just dug himself into a hole. Despite how his actions drive Margaret to the absolute edge, Travers still absolutely adores him. All credit to Colin Farrell for this portrayal.

I said earlier that although Disney lobbied for this film heavily at the Oscars, it was ultimately only nominated for the Best Original Score. This was a well-earned nomination, as the musical numbers were some of the best moments of the film.

Saving Mr Banks really surprised me as a film. Just like the initially icy PL Travers was worn down by American enthusiasm and optimism, so was I. And I'm all the better for it.