Robert Pattinson’s new movie, Saving Mr. Banks, is finally here! The movie adaptation of the hilarious book by Allison Janney finally opens in theaters this week, and we can’t wait to see what Pattinson brings to the role. He is arguably one of the most talented actors of his generation, and his performance as Joe Banks will be worth the price of admission alone.
The Most Anticipated Actor Of The Century
Just when you thought the Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations couldn’t get any more exciting, along comes Saving Mr. Banks. The film is the story of Joe Banks, a retired English teacher who is unexpectedly called back into action when he is needed to oversee the decorating of an English department office for a school dance. In the course of trying to maintain some dignity while simultaneously dealing with a school administrator who has completely lost his mind, and a gang of teenage girls who want to seduce him, Joe Banks teaches the movie industry and the world at large a lesson about good writing and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor in the face of adversity. We can’t forget about his trademark brogue either.
Saving Mr. Banks Director Michael Buckner
The great thing about Saving Mr. Banks is that it was directed by Michael Buckner, whose other films include the wonderful indie comedy Sightseers and the cult-classic Pulp Fiction. Buckner knows exactly how to make a movie sound good, and he does it using all the right tricks: top-notch acting, fantastic writing, and brilliant sound design. The supporting cast, especially Joe Pantoliano and Richard Jenkins, steal the movie as well.
The Man Behind The Madness
Speaking of great supporting roles, let’s not forget about Mark Rylance, who plays the part of the head of English at an imaginary university in Saving Mr. Banks. Rylance, for those of you who may not know, is the man behind the most famous performance of the 21st century thus far, the award-winning role of Vladimir in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies. This is likely the role for which Rylance is best known, and it is safe to say that he is one of the greatest living English actors of his generation. He is also, quite frankly, one of the greatest actors of all time.
The Sexiest Man Alive
Another great performance comes from Orlando Bloom, who plays the part of an aging homosexual rock star in Saving Mr. Banks. Once again, it is important to point out that this is not a regular occurrence for Bloom, who has largely avoided the leading man role due to his well-known uneasiness around women. But with Saving Mr. Banks, Bloom finds a character who is actually reminiscent of his usual type, which is quite a departure for the usually handsome actor. We can only hope that Bloom will remain in Hollywood and continue to find interesting, challenging roles.
The Sexiest Woman Alive
There is also Emma Thompson, another English actress who deserves a spot on this list for her role as the tart-tongued American heiress Edwina Mountbatten in The White Queen. Thompson has been nominated for an Academy Award twice for her work in Saving Mr. Banks, and she will be up against some stiff competition for the SAG Award. It would appear that she has found the perfect role to play since her portrayal of Mountbatten is exactly what the awards voters want to see. It is easy to understand why: Thompson’s foul-mouthed, wise-cracking Mountbatten is one of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, characters in all of cinematic history. Thompson’s Mountbatten is a force to be reckoned with, and it would be a waste of time to try and stand against her. And speaking of time, the clock is ticking, so let’s get to the point about Saving Mr. Banks.
Plot Synopsis
If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick plot synopsis for Saving Mr. Banks: Joe Banks is an English teacher who is asked to come back into the office to help decorate it for a school dance. During the course of trying to do his job and deal with an unhinged school administrator and a gaggle of teenage girls, Joe Banks teaches the movie industry and the world at large a lesson about good writing and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor in the face of adversity. Michael Buckner (director), Michael Apted (screenplay), and Mark Rosenfelder (screenplay) bring this wise-cracking English teacher to life through a series of comedic set-pieces that will have you roaring with laughter. And let’s face it: laughing as you watch movies is one of the greatest things you can do as an adult. It’s good for you, it makes you feel better, and it has the power to make you smile. So unless you’re feeling particularly gloomy, there’s really no reason not to laugh as you watch Saving Mr. Banks.