A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood * * *
Marielle Heller is the same director who gave us The Diary of a Teenage Girl (one of the best dramas in the last ten years). She followed that with Can you ever forgive me?, which is pretty well the question I have to ask Marielle; because I enthusiastically gave her five stars for "Diary" and four stars for "Forgive", but for this latest effort I can only give 3. Sorry Marielle (and I'm sure you've been hanging out for this review too). Still, she need not worry, everyone else is giving her latest effort "film of the decade" ratings.
For me, the problem is, since the fearless The Diary of a Teenage Girl, each film has become less risky. This one is safe as houses. Further, despite its charms it also has a painful sense of contrivance - and it's ploddingly slow.
Matthew Rhys does a good job but the lead character is the lead character and to be honest he's not very nice. A bit hard for us to live with for two hours. He plays a magazine writer with a fractured relationship with his father.
His issues with Dad all come to a head at the time that he is assigned to write an article on Fred Rogers who hosts a Children's TV show called "It's a Beautiful day in the Neighborhood".
Rogers is an interesting man. Using a few props and his own sincerity (and genuine love for his work and people) he hosts a highly successful show that not only appealed to children, and taught them ways to deal with difficult situations, but many an adult would find comfort in it too. Tom Hanks does an excellent job playing Fred Rogers and fairly conveys the charm and sincerity of Fred Rogers.
As his series of interviews progresses, the writer learns the value of understanding and forgiveness from Rogers.
Despite my personal disappointment, it remains a cleverly plotted film and well worth viewing. But if you really want to see the best of Heller go see the earlier films I mentioned.
For me, the problem is, since the fearless The Diary of a Teenage Girl, each film has become less risky. This one is safe as houses. Further, despite its charms it also has a painful sense of contrivance - and it's ploddingly slow.
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| Tom responds to my review. Duck! |
His issues with Dad all come to a head at the time that he is assigned to write an article on Fred Rogers who hosts a Children's TV show called "It's a Beautiful day in the Neighborhood".
Rogers is an interesting man. Using a few props and his own sincerity (and genuine love for his work and people) he hosts a highly successful show that not only appealed to children, and taught them ways to deal with difficult situations, but many an adult would find comfort in it too. Tom Hanks does an excellent job playing Fred Rogers and fairly conveys the charm and sincerity of Fred Rogers.
As his series of interviews progresses, the writer learns the value of understanding and forgiveness from Rogers.
Despite my personal disappointment, it remains a cleverly plotted film and well worth viewing. But if you really want to see the best of Heller go see the earlier films I mentioned.
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