Rent A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Not a biopic and not strictly a true story either... - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by Strovey

This film really is not a biopic of Fred Rogers the iconic Mr Rogers so if you go into this expecting that you will be disappointed. It is, and I have to say another, film about the fractured relationship between children and one or both or their parents or siblings. I get drama, and the general belief that people love to watch conflict, but it is starting to look like everyone in the world hated their parents and did not speak to them anymore. Similar to every ex-service person in a film having been in Special Services and on a conflict zone frontline. So as such if you are an avid film goer you have seen this scenario play out many times in many styles.

This does not necessarily make A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood a bad film. It is not. Tom Hanks brings Fred Rogers back to life with his usual skill and aplomb particularly in his mannerisms, his stillness and calm. I did feel that there was an underlying creepiness to the performance in certain scenes that I never got from films and clips of the real Mr. Rogers. Chris Cooper pops up with his usual hard-ass unpleasant character role although this one has genuinely found redemption in the form of Dorothy before he tries to find his final redemption with his estranged son Lloyd.

Lloyd played by Cardiff-born actor Matthew Rhys is probably the weakest link for me. Not so much the acting but more the situation which seems to get more unlikely as it plays out. These father/son relationships always seem to be the same, a good bit of actorly, showy, conflict and wrapped up nice and neat. As wonderful as Fred Rogers was it is certain he could not just end years of anger and rowing with a few choice words and an impromptu ‘stare-out’. More obvious when the real journalist, Tom Junod, did not actually have a terrible conflict with his father who did not abandon his family, there were no wedding punch-ups. Having said this it is difficult to fit in a long-term friendship that made Junod reassess his whole macho attitude to being a man due to Rogers' influence in just over ninety-minutes. So, no huge criticism then.

The focus of the film is rightly Vogel and Rogers to this extent the women do get side-lined somewhat, which is strange as the director is Marielle Heller a little bit more of the two women in these men’s lives to give a different perspective might have added a bit more interest but this is just my idea and certainly as the film is edited and shown it is not detrimental.

The recreation of the cities and towns as Mr. Rogers Neighborhood of Make-Believe as we transition between different scenes is a great artistic and clever device. Is Heller telling us that although this is set in the real world it is still all make-believe. Or have I booked myself a place in Pseud’s Corner? Nevertheless, I liked the idea.

All of the acting is exemplary and Heller has a top-notch cast to hand and her directing is good, trimming the fat of what could be a sappy and saccharine and getting to the nub of the story she wants to tell. The film is good and entertaining.

If you would like to see something that tells you more about Fred Rogers, the way he thought, his philosophy and outlook then A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood salutes this and even hints at the illness that ended his life, but it is not about this. I would recommend the 2018 documentary Won’t You Been My Neighbor by Morgan Neville, which is entirely about the man, his influence, the people he interacted with and is much more moving.

Very good - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by JR

This is a film about the big stuff in life: childhood, parenthood, families, love, death, emotional pain. It's also about something very old fashioned - virtue.

The film is inspired by real events where a driven magazine writer overcomes his cynicism and learns about decency, empathy and kindness from Mister Rogers, the host of a 'hokey children's televison programme'. It is at times funny and deeply moving, but any sentimentality is cut back by the clever, daring structure of the film and the really outstanding use of music (Cat Stevens and Nick Drake among others) and the jazz ensemble musical score. Scenes inside the miniature toy town on the set of Mister Rogers programme mark the 'chapters' of the narrative seamlessly.

The acting is all outstanding, and the film adds to the impressive body of work of Marielle Heller, who directed the estimable 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'

Charming - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by AF

Charming gentle story of the life of a well known children’s t.v. Show presenter .Brillant preformance by Tom Hanks,who managed to impersonate Fred Rogers to perfection.

My own daughter was among those children who loved Mr Rogers and his “cardie” back in the eighties  

An absolute tonic for the soul! - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by JE

A very poignant and uplifting film that brings tears to the eyes at times but leaves you feeling refreshed and energised. Tom Hanks rarely chooses a bad role or film to play and once again he’s proven his abilities to take on another style and persona. The relationship between the two main characters is a joy to behold. 

lovely - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by JB

I really liked this film and enjoyed every moment. Tom Hanks was so believable, it was great to see him play this character. Very enjoyable

Rubbish - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by SH

Only watched ten minutes couldn't bare to watch any more what a pile of crap this has to be on my top ten worst movies this is just fit for the bin why on earth Tom Hank's acted in this rubbish movie

Heartwarming and Sensitive Drama - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood review by GI

The name Fred Rogers will be unfamiliar in the UK but in the US he was a children's TV icon running a popular show, 'Mr Roger's Neighborhood', from 1963 to 2001, which made him a national treasure. Tom Hanks plays the ever so kindly Rogers in what isn't a biopic story as such but is based on his relationship with hardbitten and cynical reporter, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys). Vogel is assigned to do a short piece on Rogers, a role he takes on reluctantly, but he finds that the TV persona that Rogers displays is actually not an act and very soon Vogel's interview becomes Rogers' insightful examination of Vogel's personal problems. This is a story of a man impervious to cynicism, who senses unhappiness in people and actively tries to help them and his opposite, a man embittered by his failed relationship with his father (Chris Cooper) and who is constantly angry with the world. This makes for an actually quite touching film enhanced by Hanks ability to play the inimitable Rogers so well. A film I found myself enjoying despite myself and you don't have to have any prior knowledge about Fred Rogers (I didn't) to quickly grasp who he is and what this film is about. This is really a story of a man finding happiness with his life. It's really quite lovely.