OSCARS 2020: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2020)

The last few years have seen a renewal of interest in the teachings and work of Fred Rogers. Most millennials, myself included, are just old enough for “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” to have been a part of our childhoods. And nostalgia is always big. But that's not the real reason. The encroaching doom of climate change, the Forever War, billionaires trying to destroy the middle-class, the rise of American fascism, and everything else that makes life terrifying in 2020 has caused us nineties kids to discard our natural sarcasm and cynicism in favor of a search for sincerity. Mr. Rogers' gentle-voiced, calm message of self-love, empathy, and understanding is like a soothing balm for the modern anxious soul. This Mr. Rogers revival was largely spurned on by the 2018 documentary “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” Following that film's record-breaking success came the announcement of a biopic starring Tom Hanks. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” has, predictably, earned Hanks his latest Oscar nomination. Yet it's a pleasant surprise to see the movie doesn't quite follow the expected biographical path.

Lloyd Vogler is a writer for Esquire Magazine, famous for his scorched Earth profiles on famous public figures. He's also going through some personal problems. He still feels the sting of his father walking out after his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. With Lloyd newly becoming a dad himself, his father tries to re-enter his life... Which results in a fist fight. Around this time, he is given the assignment to interview beloved children's show host Fred Rogers. Though initially expecting to uncover some dark truth about Mr. Rogers, Lloyd is soon disarmed by the man's earnestness. Fred takes an interest in Lloyd too, causing an unexpected friendship to bloom. Soon, the interviewer is learning more about himself than his subject. 

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is exactly the heart-tugging display of empathy you'd hope it would be. The trailer was enough to make me misty-eyed, so I expected to – and did – wipe some tears away while watching it. Lloyd's arc, of learning to forgive his shit-heel dad and himself, plays out exactly as you figure it will. However, “A Beautiful Day” gains so much from Fred Rogers' real words. His advice to take a minute and remember those that “loved you into being” causes the whole film to pause, making the viewer think about it too. His reminder to Lloyd, to remember the joys of childhood, to allow yourself to feel your feelings, is pointed at the viewer too. These are important truths and ones we obviously still need to hear. Now as then, Rogers is such a powerfully warm person. This allows director Marielle Heller to fill the film with sweet, touching episodes. Such as Rogers effortlessly connecting to a little kid on an oxygen tank. Or a subway train launching into an impromptu rendition of the “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” theme song.

If the film's script is predictable, at least Heller is having fun with the presentation. The first scene is a pitch perfect facsimile of Rogers' show, right down to the video grain. A segue to Lloyd's job wonderfully recreates the documentary segments on Fred's show. Miniature towns and cities, much like the one in the opening of the series, are used in the establishing shots. Just when you think the film is making things a little too twee, we get an amusingly weird dream sequence that twists the imagery of “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” in a fittingly surreal direction. These touches wouldn't have worked for most biopics but Mr. Rogers would've appreciated the whimsy, I think.

And, of course, Tom Hanks is perfectly cast. He doesn't physically resemble Rogers much. Where Fred was scrawny, Hanks is broad-shouldered. The old age make-up Hanks wears can't disguise that the two have totally differently shaped faces. Though he attempts to affect the particular cadence of Rogers' voice, he doesn't quite perfect that either. Yet none of that really matters, because Hanks nails the spirit of the man. This was a given, as few American actors are as capable of depicting utmost sincerity as Hanks. His Rogers is patient, playful, totally earnest, and always eager to listen. Though the film insists the man wasn't a saint, Hanks sure makes it believable that he was. (The rest of the cast is fine too, by the way.)

I can certainly recall watching “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood” as a pre-schooler. I'm not sure I would define myself as a fan back then but I always appreciated how quiet a program it was. Like many, it was only as an adult that I realized how profound Rogers' message is. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” will hit that audience right in the heart. It's a sweet, charming film that does a few clever things. It's ultimately pretty fluffy too. (Definitely watch “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” if you want more insight into the man's life and philosophies.) This is not necessarily a problem, as I enjoyed every minute I spent watching the film. In-between this and “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” Marielle Heller is becoming the specialist in sweet, low stakes, funny biopics about friend that get actors Oscar nominations. [7/10]