Several months ago, I sat down to watch the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor about Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers, the iconic children’s television host. Rogers passed away more than a decade ago, and for the most part, his memory remains unproblematic and lovely. Like, he held up. His decency and kindness held up. There were no stories about him years later where we learned that he was secretly a misogynist or an abuser or anything like that. Won’t You Be My Neighbor showed that to great effect – he was, at his core, just a man of profound decency who genuinely believed that he was doing the lord’s work by talking to kids and entertaining them and educating them on how we should all be treated in a civil society.
Anyway, the documentary is wonderful and it surprisingly did not make me cry as much as I thought it would, but it did move me. I would recommend it to anyone. But because Hollywood is gonna Hollywood, they decided to do a “based on a true story” feature film about Mister Rogers, with Tom Hanks playing Fred Rogers. They frame Mister Rogers’ story through a journalist profiling him and, like, trying to write a hit piece about him or something? What a bizarre way to frame this particular story of this particular man. The first trailer for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is here and it just looks like… Tom Hanks.
There’s a reason why Hanks was cast as Fred Rogers and it’s not because Tom looks like Fred. He does not, at all. Tom Hanks is probably the only actor in Hollywood who can present himself with the profound decency of Fred Rogers without the character seeming like there’s some dark, mysterious underbelly. That being said… I hope people check out the documentary, because this feature film was unneeded.
Also: after watching the documentary, you know what part of Fred Rogers’ life would have made a great feature film? His Congressional testimony on funding public broadcasting and early childhood development. That was the most riveting footage I’ve ever seen in my life.
Photos courtesy of Sony Entertainment.
I wasn’t intending on crying this morning, yet here I am a sobbing mess. I look forward to this movie, but agree about the documentary. It was very good.
I have a lot of laundry to fold. Just turned on the documentary.
Just finished watching. What a once in a lifetime kind of person. His kindness is sorely missed today.
The ending was beautifully done and had me in tears.
That documentary made me sob like a baby. Like ugly cry, snot running down my face. I forgot how much the world needs unapologetically kind and earnest people. I didn’t appreciate him enough as a kid.
I’m not sure he’s nailed the accent but for sure I will be seeing this. And by the way, if you haven’t seen the documentary that came out last year, you really need to…. and bring tissues.
The trailer has me tearing up already.
Hmmmmmm ~
All I heard and saw was Tom Hanks doing a skit as Mr. Rogers.
Ahh. So in love with Fred Rogers and his purpose and legacy. He made such a beautiful impact on children and families. Can’t watch the trailer bc I’m at my kids swimming lessons and don’t want to cry but I feel like Tom Hanks does the work the really honor the people he plays and I hope it’ll be the same for Mr Rogers.
I don’t like Tom Hanks very much, so will pass. Interesting that you posted this today because I was just watching 2 Mr. Rogers videos on youtube – “It’s You I like” and his induction into the TV Hall of Fame. The first had me crying, but then the second had me ugly crying. I recommend both, as long as you have tissues handy.
Everytime I watch the Congressional testimony I get goosebumps. Watching the Senator being won over (despite his initial and vocal objections to the proposition) by the sheer force of Mr. Rogers passion, sincerity and devotion to his project is everything.
Fred Rogers shines here.
The documentary was everything. I recommend seeing it as well. What a kind and pure person.
“They frame Mister Rogers’ story through a journalist profiling him and, like, trying to write a hit piece about him or something? What a bizarre way to frame this particular story of this particular man.”
I got the impression that the take will be a jaded journalist who discovers that Mr. Rogers really is that kind and decent, and that he’ll be a person who needs the healing power of kindness,
I will wait to catch this on HBO. I love Tom Hanks and I get him being cast as Fred Rogers only because their personalities and likability are similar, but Tom Hanks looks nothing like Mr. Rogers and I find it distracting. The trailer is making me quite tearful though, mostly because of Kaiser’s description of Fred Rogers being such an honorable, decent human being; reminds me so much of my Grandfather who dedicated his life to youth athletics. Having said that I now realize I could never see this in the theater because I’d be a mess.
I love this – the documentary was fantastic and heartwarming because that’s who Mr. Rogers was. I sort of wince at the thought of him getting the “Hollywood Oscar-Bait” treatment, but you know what? The guy was amazing. Give him a movie!
Yep. Thanks for making me bawl my eyes out! Definitely can’t imagine anyone else playing him. No way he will be able to nail such an iconic person, someone many of us saw everyday of our childhood.. but I don’t care. The documentary blew my mind, can’t believe it wasn’t nominated for an Oscar.
I grew up around the corner from Mr. Rogers in his real neighborhood! As schoolkids we visited his set at WQED and watched a taping of his show. I actually found the documentary about him more interesting than my personal experience. On Halloween, his house was dark and he didn’t give out candy.
I feel like knowing he didn’t give out Halloween candy makes him more human!! We always hear how kind and decent he was and nobody has a bad thing to say about him. I know he was very religious (he was a pastor?) so he probably thought giving out candy to kids on a pagan holiday was sinful. This theory absolutely delights me to know he had a “dark side.” (but not too dark!)
Haha! I’m glad this gives you pleasure. I always figured he wanted his privacy. But it certainly does make him a bit more complex than pure saintly.
Or he wasn’t home. He could have been visiting sick kids at hospitals. Or 1000 other reasons. I just don’t like to assume things about people.
Well crap. That made me tear up.
what a man, the doc moved me too, and yes the congressional testimony, the way he turned the aggression to decency and understanding, and so quickly was incredible.
I loved that documentary. When I heard that Tom Hanks was starring in a movie about Fred Rogers I got very excited. I can’t wait!
I am so thankful that people like Mr. Rogers existed, and that he came to prominence when he did. With all the bad in the world, I firmly believe there is more good. The good, though, doesn’t make headlines like it should.
We need another Mr. Rogers today – but for adults. Children are born with all the right emotional tools, and they listen to mentors and teachers with their ears and hearts wide open. Adults…not so much.
Great point.