How could they make a movie about Mr. Rogers? Is there some untold story? Was he different in real life? Did he have secrets the world never knew about? What could this movie tell us that we didn’t already know about Mr. R? Where’s the conflict?

Well, the film A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood does focus on a guy who has lots of conflict in his life. But it’s a magazine writer Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) who has issues (pun intended), not Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks).

The real-life Mr. Rogers was a genuinely nice guy who had a special connection with his young viewers, as was shown in the 2018 documentary about him (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?). In this new film, which is “inspired by true events,” Rogers connects with and counsels the adult, Lloyd, who has come to profile him for Esquire.

Tom Hanks is, yes, a bit chunkier than Fred Rogers was. But Hanks has that nice guy image and is an apt choice for the role. His big smile is a bit unnatural compared to the real Mr. Rogers’ smile, but at least he tries.

Hanks is at his best when he slows down the pace of the movie and, in one case, pauses silently for several seconds before continuing. He delivers guidance to the journalist but he also… listens!

Is Hanks’ performance Oscar-worthy? He’s not a shoo-in, but he should be in the mix for consideration.

Credit goes to the writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Hapster along with director Marielle Heller for structuring a film that imitates a real Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood episode. The Pittsburgh and New York City skylines are represented by miniatures similar to those used on the Neighborhood show.

The cast also includes Chris Cooper as Lloyd’s estranged dad and Susan Kelechi Watson as Lloyd’s wife.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood is a true feel-good movie with several scenes that will bring a smile. If you and/or your kids watched Mr. Rogers on TV, this story will touch your soul. If you are less familiar with Fred Rogers and his show, you will still appreciate the humanity and sweetness of the man.

 

The new movie from Korea called Parasite has everything: drama, comedy, suspense, terror, sex and violence. It is one of the year’s best.

The lower middle class Kim family (dad, mom, adult son and adult daughter) manages, via a series of lies and deceptions, to become support staff for the upper class Park family (dad, mom, young teen daughter and preteen son). As they say in click bait headlines, you won’t believe what happens next!

Here’s an interesting catch: neither family is composed of bad people. The Kims scrape by in a small basement apartment because the outfits that dad has recently worked for have gone belly up or had layoffs. The other family members are also not employed. Yes, they misrepresent themselves to the Parks but they are not immoral people.

The Parks live in a gorgeous modern design home and, while they enjoy the perks of wealth, they are not obnoxious. They, too, are generally likable people. There’s no real villain here.

Parasite won the Palm d’Or award for best film at the Cannes Film Festival and is the 2^nd highest rated 2019 film (after Joker) on the imdb.com Top 250 at #36.

Bong Joon Ho who co-wrote and directed 2013’s Snowpiercer and 2017’s Okja (both in English) is the director and co-writer of this film, which is in Korean with English subtitles. The cast and crew for Parasite are all Korean.

Although the story is set in Seoul, this is a story that could be set in almost any American urban area and acted by an American cast. This clever, imaginative film hits several emotional buttons. Parasite is “must see.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The story seems familiar. It includes elements we’ve seen in other mob movies, including its three main cast members. Nevertheless, The Irishman is an epic. For many reasons.

Yes, it’s long. Three-and-a-half hours. But it rarely drags. Could the story have been told in a shorter movie? Yes. I compare this film to a 600-page novel. Could such a story be trimmed to 350 pages? Sure, but you lose character development and small episodes that contribute to the texture of the whole narrative.

Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) is The Irishman. His story is told in flashbacks and in flashbacks within flashbacks. (Don’t worry, there’s no Christopher Nolan Inception-type business to decode.)

Frank is a Philadelphia truck driver. Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) takes Frank under his wing and connects him to a variety of mob types including numerous real-life hoods such as Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel). Frank quickly moves from small tasks to “painting houses,” which is code for killing.

Eventually, Frank, a loyal Teamster, is pegged to be bodyguard and travel partner for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Although Hoffa’s real-life legacy is that of a ruthless strongman, he is also shown to be a teetotaler family man whose main vice is ice cream.

It’s always good to see De Niro in a non-comedic role. Some of his reactions in The Irishman recall those from his Focker movies, SNL bits and other lighter roles, but this character is serious about what he does.

Pacino as Hoffa is loud and boisterous, a bully. Hoffa is recalled nowadays mainly from old news clips but Pacino gives him new life.

Pesci’s character is a low-key guy who communicates directly and clearly but without the bombast some of his other characters have employed. Of the three principal stars, Pesci’s performance is best because he does not overact. Also, while De Niro and Pacino have been seen in movies and on TV in recent years, Pesci has been mostly MIA. It’s great to see him back onscreen.

Because the story is told in flashbacks, Frank and Russell are depicted at various stages of life over a 50 or so year span. Makeup and special effects teams on this movie have done a spectacular job of making these depictions believable. Bravo!

Martin Scorsese directing another mob movie with old mob movie stars? Could’ve been a lame imitation of his past work but The Irishman is fresh and compelling from beginning to end. An epic.

 

 

Frozen II is a no-brainer. Of course it will be a hit! The story and the songs are new but the characters that fascinated girls (and boys too) in the 2013 original Frozen are back.

In F-II, Elsa (Idina Menzel), the fair-haired sister with the magical powers, is lured by voices to an enchanted forest. Yes, it’s a quest!

Accompanying her on her mission is her ginger sister Anna (Kristen Bell), the sister who has no magical powers but has a boyfriend. Also along for the ride are Olaf the snowman (Josh Gad), Anna’s boyfriend Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and a reindeer named Sven.

In the enchanted forest, several characters are introduced who don’t have the Scandinavian look of Elsa and Anna. Among them are a soldier of African descent voiced by St. Louis native Sterling K. Brown and several members of the “Northuldra” tribe who may represent Native Americans.

Quick Q and A:

Is the music as good as in the first Frozen? Yes, but there is not a standout song that has that “instant earworm” charm of Let It Go.

Is the animation as good as in the first one? Better!

How’s the story? It might not resonate with the very young viewer but there’s just enough conflict and peril to keep most viewers engaged. And, of course, some Elsa magic!

Is Elsa gay? No. She has other things on her plate right now. (Seems like a silly thing to promote or worry about.)

Will this be one that kids watch over and over on home video screens? Yes, but the sourcing may be different. Will it be available first on the new Disney+ streaming channel? Or will Disney stick with DVDs and straight digital downloads? TBD.

Will the world have to wait 6 years for Frozen III? Probably, but with a “straight to video” product or two in the interim.

Will Frozen II outgross the first Frozen at the box office? It could. But that would be a mighty feat. The 2013 Frozen became the highest grossing animated film in history but was dethroned by last summer’s Lion King reboot (which was technically animated although it had that live action look.)

How long is it? Right about 90 minutes before the end credits. Unless your young guests are particularly restless, stick around for cover versions of Frozen II songs (as the credits roll) by Panic! At The Disco, Kacey Musgraves and Weezer. Yes, Weezer.