‘There is no normal life that is free from pain...’
Mr Rogers has no profile whatsoever in the UK. I’ve heard of him because he is a massive pop culture figure in America and therefore has been namechecked by various rappers, cinematic slackers and other dignitaries of note during my time as a follower of all things USA. I’m vaguely aware of the concept of Mr Rogers – a faintly Blue Peterish kids TV presenter – but it would have to take something pretty special to make me sit down for nearly two hours to watch a film about him. And, on this occasion, that pretty special thing is Thomas Jeffrey Hanks…
Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is a hard-hitting but troubled magazine journalist who is assigned to do a puff piece on Fred Rogers (Hanks) – a much beloved but enigmatic celebrity. In the end, it is Vogel who feels like he has been interrogated.
It may not seem much of a stretch for one national treasure to play another, but Hanks throws himself into this role with such gusto that it is impossible not to be blown away by his performance. The best actor of his generation again delivers here, with a performance that is mesmerising in its beauty. This is Hanks at his all American best. I don’t know if this is a straight up imitation of Rogers, or Hanks interpretation of a complicated figure, but either way, he is an utter joy to behold here. A master of his craft.
On the other hand, Matthew Rhys is an actor I’m not really familiar with, but he works hard throughout A Beautiful Day… as the eyes and ears of the viewer when entering the world of Rogers’ neighbourhood for the first time. Marielle Heller’s film does suffer whenever Hanks isn’t on screen, but then that is true of almost every movie he has ever made. Elsewhere, Chris Cooper gets a chance to play both the asshole, and the loving father figure, seemingly the only two roles in his repertoire, and Susan Kelechi Watson does well in an underwritten role as Vogel’s long suffering wife Andrea.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is not a complex film. Nor is it a challenging one. But it is a compelling and captivating story told with love, and a real affection for the characters at its heart. I loved it.