Film: 6
Stars:4.5
I'd only ever heard of Mr Rogers through American television shows where he's held up as a paragon of old fashioned, corn-fed, middle America, so I went into A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood with a bit of trepidation. All I knew about Mr Rogers was that he was a children's television presenter in the sixties and seventies and rightly or wrongly was seen as an old-fashioned fuddy duddy.
I'd knew nothing about this film other than Tom Hanks had scored a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the rose of Mr Rogers. I really went into this film blind.
I'm so glad I went to see this. It's a beautiful, glorious film, which carries a huge punch, even with the PG rating.
The film is based on Tom Junod's 1998 Esquire Article, Can You Say... Hero? The article is worth a read after you see the film, as a juxtaposition to what you see on screen. A lot of the article is found in the film, both being based on the real life friendship between the journalist and the interviewee.
In a nutshell, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a cynical journalist sent to interview Mr Rogers. Lloyd has his issues - a new father, a man with family difficulties and problems expressing emotion, he has to face a lot of challenges in interviewing the somewhat whimsical Mr Rogers - who is nothing like anybody expected. Mr Rogers, the beloved children's television presenter challenges Lloyd's world view using empathy, kindness and decency to help release Lloyd from his demons.
I don't need to say much more than this, it's all you need to know about the plot. Chris Cooper is great as Lloyd's father, adding more gravitas to the film.
Matthew Rhys is perfect as Lloyd, the conflicted man searching for some peace in a life that has never been peaceful.
Tom Hanks is deserving of this Oscar nod as Mr Rogers. His performance is all internal. Subtle, at times charmless, at times, ethereal. He encapsulates Fred Rogers, a simple, spiritual man who brings the messages of hope and clarity to children. Mr Rogers never shied away from discussing hard topics with kids - death, divorce, bullying, separation, sibling rivalry, illness.
The one thing I came away with from the film is how much the world could use a Mr Rogers now. A seemingly simple man, he was present for everybody he met. It's not something you see all that often these days.
Marielle Heller's direction is settled and assured, mixing tableaus from Mr Rogers original series, with a definitive nineties feel. Both Rhys and Hanks put in career best performances and I'm sure her direction would have her at least considered for an Oscar, even if the nod never came.
My only word or warning for this film. Take tissues. You'll need them. In particular, the last scene in the movie is breathtaking in its simplicity and clout.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is an unexpected gem of a film. It helps restore a bit of our faith in humanity.
See it.
Today's Song:
Stars:4.5
I'd only ever heard of Mr Rogers through American television shows where he's held up as a paragon of old fashioned, corn-fed, middle America, so I went into A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood with a bit of trepidation. All I knew about Mr Rogers was that he was a children's television presenter in the sixties and seventies and rightly or wrongly was seen as an old-fashioned fuddy duddy.
I'd knew nothing about this film other than Tom Hanks had scored a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the rose of Mr Rogers. I really went into this film blind.
I'm so glad I went to see this. It's a beautiful, glorious film, which carries a huge punch, even with the PG rating.
The film is based on Tom Junod's 1998 Esquire Article, Can You Say... Hero? The article is worth a read after you see the film, as a juxtaposition to what you see on screen. A lot of the article is found in the film, both being based on the real life friendship between the journalist and the interviewee.
In a nutshell, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a cynical journalist sent to interview Mr Rogers. Lloyd has his issues - a new father, a man with family difficulties and problems expressing emotion, he has to face a lot of challenges in interviewing the somewhat whimsical Mr Rogers - who is nothing like anybody expected. Mr Rogers, the beloved children's television presenter challenges Lloyd's world view using empathy, kindness and decency to help release Lloyd from his demons.
I don't need to say much more than this, it's all you need to know about the plot. Chris Cooper is great as Lloyd's father, adding more gravitas to the film.
Matthew Rhys is perfect as Lloyd, the conflicted man searching for some peace in a life that has never been peaceful.
Tom Hanks is deserving of this Oscar nod as Mr Rogers. His performance is all internal. Subtle, at times charmless, at times, ethereal. He encapsulates Fred Rogers, a simple, spiritual man who brings the messages of hope and clarity to children. Mr Rogers never shied away from discussing hard topics with kids - death, divorce, bullying, separation, sibling rivalry, illness.
The one thing I came away with from the film is how much the world could use a Mr Rogers now. A seemingly simple man, he was present for everybody he met. It's not something you see all that often these days.
Marielle Heller's direction is settled and assured, mixing tableaus from Mr Rogers original series, with a definitive nineties feel. Both Rhys and Hanks put in career best performances and I'm sure her direction would have her at least considered for an Oscar, even if the nod never came.
My only word or warning for this film. Take tissues. You'll need them. In particular, the last scene in the movie is breathtaking in its simplicity and clout.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is an unexpected gem of a film. It helps restore a bit of our faith in humanity.
See it.
Today's Song:
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