'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' review: Tom Hanks shines as Mister Rogers (TIFF)
Photo courtesy of Sony
It’s easy to take Tom Hanks for granted. With so many memorable performances over the years we know he’s a gifted and unique talent, but every few years he reminds just how one of a kind he truly is. The latest example of him jogging our cinematic memory is “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” a movie in which he plays TV legend Fred Rogers. It’s another in a long line of real life icons he’s brought to the screen, including Walt Disney and Captain Phillips, but this time while his screen time may be limited he maximizes the role for all it’s worth.
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” may have Fred Rogers as the glue to its story but the movie centers on someone else entirely: the cold and cynical Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a man with serious daddy and rage issues who has recently been assigned to profile Rogers for a magazine cover story. What starts out as a 400 word puff piece quickly turns into something more as the pessimist is eventually won over by the optimist. It’s an A-B-C- story trope you may have seen coming a mile away, but the movie doesn’t try to hide it in the slightest. This is a movie that wears its heart on its sleeve and hits every note just the way you might think. Plus it’s also based on a true story so any deviation into unknown territory might not make sense for this particular tale.
The movie is at its brightest when Hanks is onscreen as Fred Rogers, and his scenes bouncing around the TV set of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” show a fun and playful quality we rarely see from him. But in quieter moments, he adapts the ticks and mannerisms from the real-life Rogers that fans will instantly recognize. They’re not showy maneuvers; they fit in just right with bringing the character alive.
Director Marielle Heller has crafted a heart-warming tale of love and redemption and it may please her to finally tackle lighter material. Her last two films, (“The Diary of a Teenage Girl” and “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”) while both amazing works, delved into darker waters and I’m guessing a creative respite was appreciated. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” also makes a great companion piece to last year’s smash-hit documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers and his impact on society. As great as Tom Hanks is in this movie, and he is Oscar level amazing, there is just no comparison to the real thing. I’m sure a gifted and humble artist like Hanks would agree.
Rating: B
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” will open nationwide November 22.
