A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

THE GIST: A jaded magazine writer known for being tough on his subjects, and therefore finding fewer and fewer willing to talk to him, is assigned to profile Mr. Rogers, widely considered the nicest man in America. His interview for the piece ends up challenging many of his assumptions and his cynical worldview.

Not having grown up in America, I had no idea who Mr. Rogers even was, other than some random information; given that Tom Hanks was lauded for his performance, I decide to watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

The movie is based on a true story and Hanks is indeed exceptional (as always), but so is Matthew Rhys, who I didn't really know before. Chris Cooper, in a smaller role, is also brilliant.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you watched and loved Mr. Rogers as a kid, you'll certainly enjoy this movie. One thing is certain, he must have been a really special kind of man.

Grade: 7