A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (PG)

Posted by ruthmedia on February 20, 2020 in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD (PG)

Run time: 109 MINS

Director: Marielle Heller   

Cast: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper, Maryann Plunkett, Enrico Colantoni, Wendy Makkena,Tammy Blanchard, Noah Harpster, Carmen Cusack

Synopsis: Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his scepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXayfDIJeic    

Director Marielle Heller [Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015)] brings us this timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between TV personality Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is based on a 1998 Esquire article by Junod, with a script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.

Lloyd Vogel [Matthew Rhys –The Report (2019), The Americans (TV 2013-2018), Burnt (2015)] is an investigative journalist who receives an assignment to profile Fred Rogers, aka TV favourite ‘Mr. Rogers’ (Tom Hanks). He approaches the interview with skepticism, as he finds it hard to believe that anyone can have such a good nature. But Rogers’ empathy, kindness and decency soon chips away at Vogel’s jaded outlook on life, forcing the reporter to reconcile with his own painful past.

This film is a nuanced delight, a paean to goodness, perfectly pitched and played with an outstanding ensemble, led by Hanks with his usual sure touch.

Much like the beloved TV personality who inspired it, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood offers a powerfully affecting message about acceptance and understanding, friendship and forgiveness.

Images courtesy of SONY PICTURES UK