Drama based on a true story starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys. In the late 1990s, journalist Lloyd Vogel is assigned to interview the beloved children's TV host, Fred Rogers. The cynical Vogel sets out to expose "Mr Rogers" as a fraud, but as he spends more time with the gentle and avuncular presenter, Vogel instead begins to reflect on his own deep-seated problems.
Tom Hanks channels the spirit of Fred Rogers, America's most beloved, be-cardiganed children's TV host in director Marielle Heller's delightfully deep drama. After directing the bitterly funny fictional biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Heller brings us an unexpected story of a genuinely good man who made his living by being himself on TV. Based on a 1990s Esquire article, the film follows journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) as he is sent by his editor to interview Rogers in a last ditch effort to bring the troubled journalist back from the emotional brink. Initially outraged at this apparent demotion, Vogel is soon reaching for Rogers's help after opening up about his toxic relationship with his father (Chris Cooper). On the heels of a popular documentary about the TV host (Won't You Be My Neighbor?), Heller has opted for an endearing introduction to a man who was essentially America's oasis of televisual calm. Sporting sneakers and button-down knitwear, Hanks brings Rogers alive with a light, careful air, only hinting at his Presbyterian background. Don't be afraid to tune in: you may actually learn a thing or two about emotional intelligence. And it won't hurt.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Fred Rogers | Tom Hanks |
| Lloyd Vogel | Matthew Rhys |
| Andrea | Susan Kelechi Watson |
| Jerry | Chris Cooper |
| Ellen | Christine Lahti |
| Joanne | Maryann Plunkett |
| Bill Isler | Enrico Colantoni |
| Dorothy | Wendy Makkena |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Marielle Heller |
