A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - 4K Blu-Ray [Standard] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]

"A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" manages a dizzying balance of subject matter, placing Mister Rogers' determined kindness against a horrifying backdrop of his interviewer's tragic life story. I don't know if this was marketed as a "Christian movie" per se, but Rogers' faith is on display throughout, particularly in his character and how he endeavors to brighten the world of everyone around him. An artistic complaint I've had about some Christian movies is that scenes of prayer sometimes look cheesy and halt the plot progress, but that doesn't happen here. Prayer is inserted into Rogers' daily life and is narrated over other events, but you always see how observant he is to the needs of others. The journalist interviewing Rogers has endured a cavalcade of terrible life experiences, leading to a violent brawl with his father (showcased very early on in the movie and remarkably convincing for a live-action PG-rated film), and this movie answers another issue I've had with some more overtly Christian films — because of the Bible's necessary entanglements with the subjects of sex and violence, some Christian films (especially with the latter) don't know how disturbing their content is. But this movie feels like every ounce of its content, even the purposely inappropriate or discordant bits (the violence, the drug use, and a scene where another man's "trophy wife" is shown off, with a camera angle that focuses on the woman's chest), leads to a greater purpose instead of feeling gratuitous or intended to shock. I wouldn't recommend this movie for young children — [SPOILERS] the main journalist gets into an argument with his father so hostile that the latter collapses and winds up in the hospital while the former's wife, who I questioned many times how she never left him throughout the film, pleads with him to at least call 911, segueing into a really weird hallucination of a life-size Mister Rogers' Neighborhood [END SPOILERS] — but the aforementioned scene and its audacity, especially in light of its central subject and its rating, had my jaw dropping in a way that few movies ever do. The last one that comes to mind is Blade Runner 2049. The movie's message is life-affirming, but more than that, this is the kind of movie that this subject matter needed. It's not doubted that Mister Rogers was a kindhearted person and will likely be long remembered as such, but the movie deftly demonstrates that this kindness and even idealism can still exist and thrive in a deeply cynical world, acknowledging that cynicism's deepest concerns about the ugliness of human nature without indulging them. The film isn't really a biopic about Rogers himself and never stops to throw in exposition about how "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was pitched or developed, and it feels like a stronger film for omitting unnecessary elements. It's more of a message of a selfless man teaching an observant but bitter man how to love again. From a production standpoint, the movie was gorgeous and is immensely appealing to look at, especially with the various sets and dioramas. Hanks' performance is flawless. The conclusion feels abrupt, but for a film like this, whose focus seems to be on its moral message toward its audience, it does a great job of saying, "Our story is done; go and live yours."

This is a wonderful movie for people who feel nostalgia towards Fred Rogers, but the actual story is a fiction. It is loosely based on an article written by an author a few years before Rogers' death, however neither the writer, nor the events depicted are factual. All in all, Tom Hanks puts on a splendid show as no other actor would portray the selfless and thoughtful Rogers with such great enthusiasm, realism, and wit. A definite feel good movie at a time when genuine feelings are at a premium.

Mr. Rogers was and has always been a transcendent influence in my life. He was such a calming and loving force. This movie captures the sphere around him that impacted everyone. While the story is about a journalist who becomes a friend to him, Mr. Rogers is portrayed in a sense as someone this journalist needed to understand how to love someone in his life that hurt him so badly. There is so much emotion in this movie, nostalgia, grace, tears. It’s a phenomenal movie.

Tom Hanks certainly has a rich legacy of starring roles. This role should be his crown for actually making a difference in the world. Everyone you know should see this movie for its message on how to make others more important. For Mr. Rogers, there was no them versus us. It was always about enriching your life by including love for those who are unlovable. For sheer beauty of feeling, I compare this with "Delovely." You will watch this again and again for support of your spirit.

This story about the relationship between Mr Rogers and a reporter is a great way to remind us to always take other approaches when we think we know people. I felt that it was engaging and it gave me a bit more of my childhood back in the Mr Rogers scenes. Got people expecting this to be a straight Mr Rogers movie, please know that the true story is more focused on the reporter with Mr Rogers showing him how to view the world a slight bit more differently.