Won’t You Be My Neighbor 2018

     Fred Rogers was a unique presence on television for generations.  He was charming and soft-spoken but he powerfully expressed his profound ideals.  Fred wanted to be a pastor and he was ordained but he found a different calling.  He provided an oasis for children in the media of television.  It was a safe haven in a sea of constant bombardment.  Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood started in 1968 and it gently delved into important subjects no other children’s show was daring to air.  Rogers had sweet-tempered idealism and he influenced the world on TV and also authorities in government.  Inwardly, he had deep self-doubts about himself and he had occasional misjudgments.  The world did not always understand a man of such noble character!!!

     I thought this was very good and the actual footage is shown from many of the programs aired on television.  In the cast are Fred's widow Joanne, son John, son Jim and sister Elaine.  There are also interviews with some of the cast members.  Fred knew what bothered children and he knew how to talk them them about their problems.  He used many puppets to explain difficult subjects to children.  He had Anna Platypus, Betty Okonak Templeton-Jones, Bob Dog, Collette, Cornflake S. Pecially, Cousin Mary Owl, Cousin Steven Owl, Daniel Striped Tiger, Donkey Hodie, Dr. Duckbill Platypus, Edgar Cooke, Elsie Jean Platypus, Grandpere, Harriett Elizabeth Cow, Henrietta Pussycat, J.J. Elephant III, Hula Mouse, Ino A Horse, King Friday XIII, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, Mrs. Frogg, Prince Tuesday, Princess Margaret H. Lizard, Purple Panda, Queen Sara Saturday, Robert Troll, Tadpole Frogg and X the Owl.  5* (I really loved this movie)  

94 min, Doc directed by Morgan Neville with Fred, Joanne, John and Jim  Rogers, Bill Isler, Hedda Sharapan, Junlei Li, Max King, Margaret Whitmer, Tom Junod, Betty Seamans, Joe Negri, David Newell, Elaine Crozier.

Note:  Imdb 8.5 out of 10, 99% critic 95% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3 ½*,  Common Sense Media age 10+, Positive Messages 5*, Positive Role Models 5*, Violence 2*, Sex 2*, Language 2*, Drinking, Drugs, Smoking 1*, Metacritic 85 out of 100 with 41 critics 8.5 out of 10 with 85 reviews, Plugged In 4* out of 5*, Rolling Stone 3 ½* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Yo-Yo Ma felt mentored by Fred Rogers on how to be a celebrity and use his fame for good purpose.  The trailer for this film was released online on the day that would have been Roger’s ninetieth birthday.  It was released a few months after the fiftieth anniversary of the debut of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in 1968.  Fred Rogers saved public television funding when he testified before the US Senate Subcommittee on Communication because Presided Richard Nixon proposed slashing funding for television programming like Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.  This film made $475,419 from 29 theaters in its first weekend and $1 million from theaters in its second weekend.  It expanded to 34 theaters the following week and grossed $1.9 million.  By July 227, 2018, this film became the highest-grossing biographical documentary of all-time and on August 12, 2018 it passed Bowling for Columbine to become the 21st-highest-grossing documentary overall with a gross of $22 million.  Also, many awards were won for best documentary and other categories.