REVIEW: In 1998, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a journalist for Esquire, is assigned to do a feel-good piece on Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), the beloved creator, showrunner and host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Lloyd is a cynical, but an award-winning journalist who has an estranged relationship with his father, Jerry (Chris Cooper). A recent father, Lloyd tries to balance his personal and professional lives, but struggles when he meets Jerry again. Meanwhile, he is frustrated by his interactions with Fred Rogers, who seems to be more focused on getting to know Lloyd, rather than answering his questions, making a seemingly straightforward assignment tougher than it should be.
At the outset, it should be made clear this isn’t a biopic. Instead, it looks at the impact that one of the beloved American personalities on television had on a generation of children, who carried these learnings into adulthood. Perhaps, it’s hard for Indian audiences to relate to such a beloved American television icon, but the message of forgiveness and friendship crosses all boundaries. Fred Rogers was a superhero, if you will, whose ability was to be kind to people. The setting might appear to be playful – Fred Rogers’ show was primarily aimed at children, after all. But the subjects discussed are certainly very mature. Fred Rogers brought up difficult topics like anger, sadness, grief, war and even death. Similarly, the film delicately addresses these issues, woven with care and a lot of subtlety by director Marielle Heller, as she gracefully takes us through the screenplay. Heller immerses us into the world of Fred Rogers, using Rogers’ perspective to peek into Lloyd’s mental state.
The result is surprisingly moving and poignant. Thematically, the world-weary, cynical protagonist having a change of heart has been played out many times before, but it’s the approach that makes this one different from the others, and effectively so.
Lloyd is angry and sad, portrayed with conviction by Matthew Rhys, who carries most of the emotional weight of the narrative. But he's understandably overshadowed by the ever consistent Tom Hanks, whose Supporting Actor Oscar nomination is well deserved. Hanks uses Rogers' verbal inflections to great effect, even in silence. There's a particular scene where his kind gaze pierces through the camera directly into you, cajoling you to introspect. This, and other such moments are poignant and heartfelt. If there was ever a time to watch a film about understanding people and learning more about kindness, it is now. 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' flips the typical character study into a self-reflective experience.
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................At the outset, it should be made clear this isn’t a biopic. Instead, it looks at the impact that one of the beloved American personalities on television had on a generation of children, who carried these learnings into adulthood. Perhaps, it’s hard for Indian audiences to relate to such a beloved American television icon, but the message of forgiveness and friendship crosses all boundaries. Fred Rogers was a superhero, if you will, whose ability was to be kind to people. The setting might appear to be playful – Fred Rogers’ show was primarily aimed at children, after all. But the subjects discussed are certainly very mature. Fred Rogers brought up difficult topics like anger, sadness, grief, war and even death. Similarly, the film delicately addresses these issues, woven with care and a lot of subtlety by director Marielle Heller, as she gracefully takes us through the screenplay. Heller immerses us into the world of Fred Rogers, using Rogers’ perspective to peek into Lloyd’s mental state.
The result is surprisingly moving and poignant. Thematically, the world-weary, cynical protagonist having a change of heart has been played out many times before, but it’s the approach that makes this one different from the others, and effectively so.
Lloyd is angry and sad, portrayed with conviction by Matthew Rhys, who carries most of the emotional weight of the narrative. But he's understandably overshadowed by the ever consistent Tom Hanks, whose Supporting Actor Oscar nomination is well deserved. Hanks uses Rogers' verbal inflections to great effect, even in silence. There's a particular scene where his kind gaze pierces through the camera directly into you, cajoling you to introspect. This, and other such moments are poignant and heartfelt. If there was ever a time to watch a film about understanding people and learning more about kindness, it is now. 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' flips the typical character study into a self-reflective experience.
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