Disney’s long-awaited live-action masterpiece, Cruella, was just released and it contains some noticeable upgrades from other Disney-fied films. The new fashionable, villainous flick includes a lot of downfalls (spoiler alert, literal falls) like death, thievery, drinking, but best of all, hard rock songs throughout its entire soundtrack. Everyone who’s kept up with the latest film news knows about the brilliant Emma Stone playing the titular role, but what about the movie’s other big-leagues actress, Emma Thompson?
Thompson, who plays the Baroness, is famous for multiple other roles but another noteworthy Disney-related role she played was P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, in Saving Mr. Banks. Between these two roles, it’s hard to choose which is the “best” but that can be left up to the discretion of the viewers.
Cruella: She Is Socially powerful
There’s no denying of the Baroness’s socially domineering stature that she carries. Her cruel, intimidating demeanor easily overpowers an entire room.
Every time she walks into her own fashion company’s building, the room doesn’t just fall silent—no one is even allowed to cough. The Baroness briefly glances over at an employee who coughs in one scene, emphasizing that complete and utter silence is the only option when she is speaking. Anyone who thrives off of watching an elite and controlling villain should give Thompson’s newest role a “go.”
Mr. Banks: She Has More Facial Expressions
However, with Mrs. Travers, she is “supercalifragilistic-ally” full of expressions to show how disgusted, angry, annoyed, bored, or giddy she is about something.
This character is a lot of fun to watch because of her emotional reactions to everything. Thompson doesn’t hold back in reacting in full force to everything. She added as much complexity to the author as possible, making it both fun and saddening to watch the story unfold. Moviegoers will quickly fall in love with this character because of Thompson’s theatrical and emotional reactions.
Cruella: The Scarier, The Better
Aside from her social status, the Baroness is overall a relatively scary character. She moves slowly, almost ghostly, yet sharply in her couture outfits. One glance from her and everyone is instantly scared.
The Baroness is also not afraid to show up unannounced with the intent to watch somebody crash and burn, as viewers are familiar with. The fear she emits rings through loud and clear and she doesn’t even need to say much. There are some viewers who like to be scared and would truly hang on the edge of their seats at this chilling performance.
Mr. Banks: The Funnier, The Better
Although the character does not intend to be funny whatsoever, the way Thompson carries her demeanor cracks a lot of laughs from the audience. Travers’s witty, edgy aversion to other human beings in general clearly shows the character’s problem, but it’s hard not to laugh at it all.
Facing a little baby while boarding a plane and asking “Will the child be a nuisance?” is one way to sum up the hilarity behind Thompson’s character. Where there are viewers that like scares, there are viewers that like to laugh and this is the character they’d easily laugh along with in certain moments.
Cruella: She Is More Fashionable
Fashion fans will be happy to drink from the Baroness’s cup. The mean fashionista has her A-game on throughout the entire movie with her endless array of outfits that her designers create just for her.
Portraying this ferocious woman must have involved getting used to donning those gaudy, flowy gowns and maximized hairstyles. It’s certainly a colorful sight to take in whenever the Baroness walks in, so the viewers that like the sound of this would be impressed.
Mr. Banks: She Is More Insightful
Those who would enjoy a more artistic and insightful character should watch Thompson as P.L Travers. As an author, the character’s knowledgeable mindset goes a long way for the entire story, just only for specific moments.
Giving Ralph (her driver) a card with names of successful people who “had difficulties” strikes a chord in anyone watching as they grasp that Travers is showing him that his handicapped daughter “can do anything” she wants to. Fans of the film enjoy how intelligent and close the character is to her original novel.
Cruella: She Is Physically Domineering
Thompson has to do a couple of action scenes that differ largely from her role in Saving Mr. Banks. For starters, she has to push people off of cliffs.
Secondly, she has to have control over her three Dalmatians, which, when considering their strength up against a woman in high heels and fitted gowns, can yank her wherever she is walking them. Although shooting a high-budget film involves choreography, CGI effects, and stunt doubles, Thompson must have been expected to handle walking in those boots of hers both walking her bigger dogs.
Mr. Banks: She Is More Musical
P.L. Travers defies the odds when viewers, and especially the other characters, start to think she’s too upset to ever attempt to sing a happy song by the Walt Disney Company.
But, nevertheless, she does and the most musical scene is towards the end when she and the others belt out “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” from Mary Poppins. The lighthearted moment involves Thompson dancing and singing beautifully, creating a stark contrast with her character that everyone thought was too dull and angry to do anything remotely cheerful. The talent Thompson exhibits in her singing plus her acting chops will enamor viewers.
Cruella: She Is More Confident
Of course, when tying together how intimidating and authoritative she is, the Baroness’s confidence in herself allows the rest of her traits to take over.
Her self-confidence is the root of her personality. It makes it all possible for her to scare the world with one glance from her eyes. And, without this central part of her, she wouldn’t be able to withstand the wrath of Cruella and her bombshell public appearances. Viewers that prefer a more wicked Devil Wears Prada-esque villain shouldn’t hesitate to watch Thompson tackle this role.
Mr. Banks: She Has More Heart
For the fans that enjoy a more heartfelt role, Thompson’s Travers nails this overall. Her guilt about her father’s death is the center of her struggles. The flashbacks to her childhood continue to affect her adulthood and her present job with Walt Disney and his company.
Disney then comes to her house and advises her to forgive her original self, Helen Goff, which later results in her very tearful reaction to seeing the children mend the kite and their relationship with their father, George Banks, in Mary Poppins. Moviegoers who would rather watch a drama with emotional conflict should watch Thompson’s emotional role as Travers.
