A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Name: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 22, 2019
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Carmen Cusack, Chris Cooper, Christine Lahti, Crystal Lonneberg, Enrico Colantoni

2019

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Generally favorable reviews based on 50 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 199 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 199 Ratings

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A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: November 22, 2019 | PG

Starring: Carmen Cusack, Chris Cooper, Christine Lahti, Crystal Lonneberg, Enrico Colantoni, Kevin L. Johnson, Maddie Corman, Maryann Plunkett, Matthew Rhys, Noah Harpster, Rebecca Watson, Sakina Jaffrey, Susan Kelechi Watson, Tammy Blanchard, Tom Hanks, Wendy Makkena

Summary: 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 (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learningTom 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 (Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about empathy, kindness, and decency from America's most beloved neighbor.… Expand

Director: Marielle Heller

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Jim Slotek

Nov 21, 2019

There are some very funny lines in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, much of it predicated on the outwardly ludicrous meeting of profound cynicism and hope. Lloyd’s character arc is well handled by Rhys (The Americans), and the denouement is one only a Scrooge could call humbug. Read full review

The Film Stage Jordan Raup

Sep 8, 2019

It all culminates in a final scene that is as eloquent as it is wise. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Nov 20, 2019

Marielle Heller takes a script that many filmmakers would turn into cringe-inducing treacle and interrogates the sentimental trappings. Read full review

Wendy Ide

Sep 7, 2019

It’s as cosy as Mr Rogers’ trademark zip-up cardigan, but the sweetness of this film about the beloved US children’s television personality is tempered by the inventive eccentricity of its approach. Read full review

Peter Travers

Nov 20, 2019

You leave this movie with questions about this odd-duck of a humanist, who eased children through the thorny feelings that come with fear, bullying, divorce, and trauma. You also leave grateful for how Hanks and Heller respect the privacy and complexity of a man who knew life was never as simple as it looks. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a movie that speaks from the heart. Let it in. Read full review

Brian Truitt

Nov 18, 2019

It mostly works – Hanks is ostensibly a supporting player and noticeably missed when not onscreen – and Heller’s creativity proves just as key as her star. “A Beautiful Day” acts as a two-hour episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for grown-ups, a meta-narrative showing the real world through a kids' show lens and Hanks’ Rogers sitting us all down for an educational experience. Read full review

Alan Ng

Dec 8, 2019

Aside from Hank’s brilliant performance as Fred Rogers, I also liked the style of storytelling. The movie from start to finish feels like an actual Mr. Rogers episode with its simple three-man jazz piano score and its slow, deliberate pace. The overall story is good, sweet, but predictable. Read full review

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User Reviews

rfriend

Dec 2, 2019

There's no tongue-in-cheek to be found in this simple gem. A simple story about anger and redemption could have been maudlin, cloying. But in the hands of Marielle Heller, director and Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, writers, it was genuine and heartfelt. My God, there wereThere's no tongue-in-cheek to be found in this simple gem. A simple story about anger and redemption could have been maudlin, cloying. But in the hands of Marielle Heller, director and Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, writers, it was genuine and heartfelt. My God, there were moments when the audience (capacity crowd) went totally silent. You know, pin-drop silence. The character Mr. Rogers drove straight through to the heart with his simple truisms about personal emotions, directed toward the second main character Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys.) And it was totally real and believable. It surely affected me! I myself am dealing with anger, and hearing Mr. Rogers with his simplistic but penetrating truths, rang true for me. Another interesting detail - at one point in the movie, Mr. Rogers said to Lloyd, while seated in a restaurant: "Let's have one minute of silence.". And, atypical of movie productions, which never show events in real time, the minute went on for exactly one minute. I counted seconds to see if it would be one minute, and it was. (And this was another point in the movie, where the audience was completely silent for that minute.) Cool! I love those moments, when I feel at one with the people in the audience, although I suppose that most people are not aware of it. But that's why I choose to watch movies in theaters where are many other people, rather than at home. People I'll never talk to, but whom I don't need to talk to.

Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers - I guess he would seem a natural for the role, being a pleasant, endearing guy with a positive approach to life. But in this role, he seemed a little out of his realm, curiously enough. He seemed slightly awkward in the first half hour of the movie. But then, he seemed to absorb the role and make it his own in the second half. That made the movie easy to sink into.

The portrayal of the TV show of Mr. Rogers was authentic, complete with piano and bells accompanying Rogers words as he spoke. It even had the piano improvising, as in the TV show.

I say, watching A Beautiful Day in Your Neighborhood would be time well spent.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

GotHeeeem

Dec 23, 2019

This Movie Was Amazing!! I thought this would be a boring movie about everything perfectly fitting into place in a perfect mr. Rogers world. Nope, this movie has ups downs lefts rights, the movie is not just about mr. Rogers and it pulls it off flawlessly. This is my MOVIE OF THE YEAR! IThis Movie Was Amazing!! I thought this would be a boring movie about everything perfectly fitting into place in a perfect mr. Rogers world. Nope, this movie has ups downs lefts rights, the movie is not just about mr. Rogers and it pulls it off flawlessly. This is my MOVIE OF THE YEAR! I gave this movie a 10 and it truly is a 10. Watch this movie!!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Dec 5, 2019

To be honest, I was highly skeptical about this film going in. I greatly enjoyed the Mister Rogers documentary from last year, and I didn't think that this one could hold a candle to the emotions generated by that movie. Boy was I wrong. you really do forget that Tom Hanks is not MisterTo be honest, I was highly skeptical about this film going in. I greatly enjoyed the Mister Rogers documentary from last year, and I didn't think that this one could hold a candle to the emotions generated by that movie. Boy was I wrong. you really do forget that Tom Hanks is not Mister Rogers within about 5 minutes after the opening titles. And the choice to make the movie about the Esquire writer is really genius. I thought Chris Cooper was inspired casting. The only downside to this movie was that it made me think about my life more than I wanted it to. Which can't be too much of a bad thing.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JakesMovieStuff

Jun 15, 2020

"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" tells the story of a pessimistic and angry magazine writer, Lloyd Vogel, who has a change of heart and perspective. The general story is one we have seen several times before in movies. The big thing that makes Lloyd have a change of heart is being"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" tells the story of a pessimistic and angry magazine writer, Lloyd Vogel, who has a change of heart and perspective. The general story is one we have seen several times before in movies. The big thing that makes Lloyd have a change of heart is being assigned to write a piece on Mr. Rogers, played by Tom Hanks. Every scene with Hanks as Rogers is great. The scenes where Hanks is absent feel a bit empty. Lloyd has issues with his father and is mostly an unpleasant person. He has several interviews with Mr. Rogers and over the course of the interviews is able to forgive his father and become a better family man. The best part of this movie is Hanks' performance. HE brings his typical phenomenal acting chops to the role and brings to life the pathos of the real life Mr. Rogers. The movie is well-directed. It is filmed sometimes like an episode of Mr. Rogers' show, and then shot like a real movie, which adds a bit of charm to it. There are some weird sequences though, like in the middle of the movie Lloyd has a dream sequence where he is a puppet on the show and it is a bit weird. However, the movie as a whole is written very well and will hit you in the feels. It has a very inspiring message that will make you want to be a better person, and the world could use more of that right now. There is a bit of humor, but for the most part it is very melodramatic. It is a PG-rated movie, but this movie may not be entertaining for children since it is slower. I did enjoy it a lot, but I do see how it is not a perfect movie too, but it is a great piece of film. Overall, I give this movie an 8.5/10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Nov 25, 2019

Decades ago, we wanted more of Tom. Nothing has changed, the good nature, the sheer brilliance, the gifted talent that he is. We still want, need more of Tom.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood The director Marielle Heller has never seen a fall. And the way she is going with, there willDecades ago, we wanted more of Tom. Nothing has changed, the good nature, the sheer brilliance, the gifted talent that he is. We still want, need more of Tom.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood

The director Marielle Heller has never seen a fall. And the way she is going with, there will never come a day. Only because she has got style. Now, I know that watching this film or reading the logline of it or even thinking of the genre it drills in, "style" is not what you would imagine is her way in. And though it is not, she cannot help herself glorify the emotional journey that these characters are going through. Just walk yourself again with Matthew Rhys and how he drinks in the surrounding of his. Whenever the film transcends from one scene to another, the models of buildings in the city and bridges and cars in traffic and whatnot location are displayed resonating a clean if surprising message. It took me a while to fully understand the intentions; not that I still do, of the makers. For there comes a time when these characters do jump outside the four walls, we get to experience the outer world. But also at that time we are told that we are delusional if we think, this is what we are seeing. For Rhys is delusional. The film completely relies upon his body language, his facial expression, his practical perspective. When he first encounters Tom Hanks kneeled down, probably uncomfortable, puppeteering and singing a song or when the background score takes the charge of the film as Rhys rattles the cage hungrily or when he is told to be silent or metaphorically to calm down, we are with him, trembling on our feet. Tom's presence remains just like the role of Fred Rogers in our life. He comes in bits and pieces, episodically and enlightens what is already A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

knissen

Nov 22, 2019

The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' character and Mr. Rogers the real person and whether or not that hokey touchy-feely persona could be authentic. But in the documentary,The documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" was much better. Like "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," it explored where the line was between Mr. Rogers' character and Mr. Rogers the real person and whether or not that hokey touchy-feely persona could be authentic. But in the documentary, that exploration felt charming and nostalgic and hopeful. It also went beyond Rogers as a cartoon character and showed his political activism. In the fictionalized version, both Mr. Rogers and the movie itself came across as cloying and silly and boring. I love Tom Hanks, who doesn't, but this portrayal was rather comical. The real Mr. Rogers was childlike; Hank's portrayed him as a child. In this film version, we saw how Mr. Rogers touched one person and it felt a little like "who cares;" in the doc, we got to see how Rogers inspired so many -- it was just more impactful and moving. Chops, though, to some of the creative and artistic elements in the movie, like the recreated neighborhoods; that aspect actually elevated the experience from dull to watchable.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

Mdoverkamp

Dec 1, 2019

So here’s why I didn’t like the Mr. Roger’s movie
1) I was under the impression the movie was about Mr Rogers and it really wasn’t 2) I found it emotionless. I was so bored and the triggers that dramas usually create were non-existent 3) It went slow and was predictable 4) the film is almostSo here’s why I didn’t like the Mr. Roger’s movie
1) I was under the impression the movie was about Mr Rogers and it really wasn’t 2) I found it emotionless. I was so bored and the triggers that dramas usually create were non-existent 3) It went slow and was predictable 4) the film is almost 100% fictional I didn’t like it all.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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76	#76 Best Movie of 2019
74	#74 Most Discussed Movie of 2019