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UW Film Club Podcast #69 – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

“You know, death is something many of us are uncomfortable speaking about on a podcast.”

There’s only one full week left in the 2020 Winter Quarter, and in this time of studying and stressing, it’s important to wind down and remind ourselves of the love in our lives that still remains in times of tension. For that reason, we’ve decided to cover the Marielle Heller directed, not-so-Fred Rogers-biopic, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood! In this episode, special guest Sam Koekoek talks about why it’s his favorite film of 2019, as well as what the film is telling us about being upfront with our emotions. As Fred Rogers himself upholds, “there is no normal life that is free from pain.” Be kind, love thy neighbor, forgive, and please listen to the wholesome 69th episode of the UW Film Club Podcast!

On this episode: Jim Saunders and Sam Koekoek

You can find us on Facebook at /UWFilmClub, and on Twitter and Instagram @FilmClubUW. Make sure to rate, comment, and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify, and Google Play, and tune in every Monday for a new episode of the UW Film Club Podcast!

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Jesus Alfaro’s Top Ten Films of 2019

2019 was a year filled with some great and fantastic movies that people will talk about for a long time. I won’t be surprised if some of these end up in the criterion collection in the future. The beginning of 2019 started off promising and ended up with amazement, but some 2019 movies must be put in those “Top 10 of 2019” lists featuring the best of the best in film. Before getting into the Top 10 list, I have to give some honorable mentions to Dragged Across Concrete, Uncut Gems, The Irishman, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, and last but not least, Ad Astra. So without futhur ado, here’s my Top 10 movies of 2019:

10. Avengers: Endgame (Anthony and Joe Russo, 2019)

Last spring, the Russos brought us the conclusion finale of this three-hour Marvel extravaganza featuring memorable fight scenes and an ending to cry for over 3000! After the events of Infinity War, I know that I was hyped even more to watch Endgame in theaters on release day, and boy did I felt so happy about the end of the Avengers as we know it… (for now). This film had bits of action, comedy, drama, and moments that made me felt in awe just like almost every other Marvel movie I’ve seen. All I can say that hasn’t been said towards is this film is that I thank the Russo Brothers for ending the Avengers movie series in a sad but heart-warming note. RIP to Stan Lee for creating heroes such as Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and much more from the Avengers series.

Read Greg Arietta’s full review of Avengers: Endgame here and listen to UW Film Club’s podcast on Avengers: Endgame here.

9. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Marielle Heller, 2019)

Beforehand, I was a bit nervous on how a memorable and incredible actor such as Tom Hanks would portray the iconic Fred Rogers. It turns out that he is excellent with the part with everything from his appearance to his acting. On top of that, this film wasn’t just a “Mr. Rogers” biography like 2018’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor. I enjoyed how this film centered around Mr. Rogers and a journalist, which is original and unique given how movies based on a true story usually turn out. This film also had creativity in the animated transition scenes between the biographical aspects. Overall, this is a film that’s good for both kids and adults that deals with themes such as family, sacrifice and more.

Read Luccas Pryor’s full review of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood here.

8. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (Chad Stahelski, 2019)

John Wick is one of the most recognizable protagonists that Keanu Reeves has performed as since The Matrix franchise. Director Chad Stahelski clearly knows how to manage the fast and high-octane action pace so that each of John Wick’s kills are exciting to witness on the big screen. This cast choice, including Laurence Fishbourne, Halle Berry, and Mark Dacascos, is unique because they happen to play a roles with different intentions and are likable and effectively serve their purpose. I enjoyed how much action this film provided as well as the plot of this third installment because of the reliance on plot as opposed to cheap action.

7. High Life (Claire Dennis, 2019)

High Life was one of the films that was discussed only a little bit when it came out but gained discussion after it was released online. The film is more than just a typical isolation-space setting, but there’s just more to it once the film’s second and third acts kick it to a high gear. Patterson’s character was so subtle within each appearance and the emotion that he brings towards his character is amusing, as well as the performances of Juliette Binoche, Andre Benjamin and Mia Goth. On top of that, the film’s cinematography (as well as the visual effects) reminded me that this is a great combination of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar and even A Clockwork Orange. Lastly, this film really deserves a couple of rewatches not only to understand more about the film’s story, but the effective shots that felt unique to witness.

6. The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, 2019)

2019 became Robbert Patterson’s year, especially with what he’s demonstrated in his two A24 films. Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse was a film that had so many “Holy crap” moments that it was disturbing to watch. Robert Patterson and Willem Dafoe’s characters are like two polar opposites that somehow must work together in order to survive without breaking character. At times, this film features a lot of funny and bloody-horrifying that leaves me in shock to how far Robert Eggers went with this film. I wouldn’t consider this film as a horror film, but more on the lines of a suspenseful drama film with so much human emotion. The visual and technical aspects of this film are amazing, especially because of how it was in black and white like the early 1900’s. I think what this film revealed was a message of how men are when there’s some sort of power struggle either by individuals or in a group atmosphere.

Read PJ Knapke’s full review of The Lighthouse here.

5. Parasite (Bong Joon-Ho, 2019)

Seeing as to how Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer is one of my favorite films from this decade, Parasite might be another favorite of his. This is another film focused on class differences and wealth disparity. I particularly enjoyed the varied reactions from the Kim and Park family to torrential rain. Snowpiercer had a similar kind of narrative between the rich and the poor, but the difference between that film and Parasite is that Parasite uses its surroundings and whereas in Snowpiercer, it’s only limited to a closed section inside of a train. I particularly admire the cleverness of the Kim family in this film. There should be more films focused on the effects of capitalism and classism.

Read Joe Lollo’s full review of Parasite here and listen to UW Film Club’s podcast on Parasite here.

4. 1917 (Sam Mendes, 2019)

Just when 2019 couldn’t get better with movies, the war genre in film brought Sam Mendes’ 1917. This film’s one-shot takes were amazing in capturing the perspective and atmosphere of the battles that two British soldiers experienced. The cinematography was just above and beyond from a typical war film. Each scene had the right amount of dolly or tracking shots featuring the two protagonists and this film left me in awe each time the protagonists overcome anything in their way under pressure and how much sacrifice it takes for them to just deliver a single, fateful message. What I’ve enjoyed the most is in the first act of the film, there’s not a full backstory provided for the soldiers leading up towards their mission until the film decides when to provide character development to balance out the heartracing action. Sam Mendes directing another war film (the previous war film being 2005’s Jarhead) was a cap to end 2019 out with a bang.

You can read Levi Bond’s full review of 1917 here.

3. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino, 2019)

“Seems this worlds got you down. You’re feelin’ bad vibrations frown.” Oh man, 1969 was a year that Rick Dalton, Cliff Booth, Sharon Tate and probably everybody else will never, ever forget. Quentin Tarantino finally gave me the opportunity to witness both Leonardo Dicarpio and Brad Pitt on the screen for the first time in almost 13 years. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had it all, from the atmosphere of 1969 to the Quentin Tarantino effect of expecting the unexpected, especially that out-of-nowhere ending, were filled with amazing “what the heck” moments. I enjoyed how this film provided a strong first and third act as well as how the ending left me in awe and wanting for more.

You can read Jim Saunder’s full review of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood here and listen to UW Film Club’s podcast on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood here.

2. Joker (Todd Phillips, 2019)

“She always tells me to smile and put on a happy face.” Holy cow, Todd Phillips has reached the next level in directing. Sure, he’s directed The Hangover trilogy, but this film is something else. Take Robert De Niro’s character from The King of Comedy, add that with Joaquin Phoenix’s acting from You Were Never Really There and the cinematography and brutal and disturbing moments from Taxi Driver, and you get possibly one of the best DC movies that steals the show. Joaquin Phoenix didn’t just act as Arthur Fleck. He’s the true definition of a character metamorphosis from Arthur Fleck to the iconic Joker, and what an ending to capture Joker ruling the Gotham world like he’s the judge, jury and executor. The cinematography of Joker was amazing, from Joker doing his iconic stair dancing to the violence Joker inspires. Finally, a DC universe film that’s rated R, looks outstanding marvelous on 4K ultra HD, and makes a star of Joaquin Phoenix.

You can read Cynthia Li’s full review of Joker here.

1. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Tatsuya Nagamine, 2019)

This was the first film of 2019 that was so great that I bought the Blu-ray and rewatched it fifty times. After the events of Battle of the Gods and Resurrection ‘F’, Dragon Ball Super: Broly witnesses Broly, a super-saiyan, who is under his father’s and Freeza’s presents to take down Goku and Vegeta. The battle scenes in this film aren’t just five minute sequences with no meaning, but go on for quite a bit and are enjoyable from start to finish. These battle scenes are the best in the Dragon Ball film series. They just left me in amazement and in awe because in comparison, Thanos has nothing when it comes to Broly destroying Goku and Vegeta and leaving them broken. One of the songs, Blizzard by Daichi Mirua, was so catchy that I started listening to it on repeat. If you are a Dragon Ball fan, I definitely recommend watching this film and witnessing the non-stop action and surprises that this film offers.

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Review: ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ is a Perfect Biopic but Okay Film

“Fame is a four-letter word, like ‘tape’ or ‘zoom.’”

There is a frustrating paradox at the center of Marielle Heller’s new film. It’s the type of risky feature that feels warmly conventional and at other times radical – just like the man himself. It features soft-spoken sequences that have the cacophonous effect of a foghorn, sincerely and smartly ushering in a wave of complexity about Mr. Rogers, his message, his role, and how it connects the world in a time of disconnect and conflict. But the film also is consistently a droll film at times, using its radical edge to tell a dull story of a man with daddy issues. The third feature directed by the supremely talented Marielle Heller, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, centers around Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), an investigative journalist for Esquire, who is assigned against his will to write a profile on the famous Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks). Lloyd, based on the real Esquire writer Tom Junod, must come to terms with conflicting elements in his life – his estranged father, his wife, his new baby, and everything in between.

Father issues are an inevitable part of cinema – for better or for worse. Just look at the best film of the year, Ad Astra, a film that combines the story of a man searching for salvation in the cosmos with a battle of toxic masculinity connected with his father. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood instead has Matthew Rhys stage intermittent panic and anger attacks with conventional rejection. Rhys, a welsh actor most notable for one of the best performances of the decade in The Americans, isn’t utilized to in his fullest compared to the former (a show that astutely lets his soft-spoken directness clash with innate primal anger). Heller initially plays the story of this man with no real interest, turning an accomplished thespian like Rhys into just another character actor who gets overshadowed by a legend (both in character and in real life). That legend is Hanks, who is so satisfying in this film, perfectly capturing the soft-spoken soul of the man at the film’s center. Hanks doesn’t go for an impressionistic appearance but one that is born out of tempo and feel. It is… remarkable. And ultimately, that’s where the film’s greatest strength lies. Heller perfectly pinpoints who Rogers was and isn’t afraid to show the tight rope that Rogers constantly walked on. He wasn’t a saint. He was a fallible man who worked profoundly hard to procure and maintain his core philosophy and ultimately his central sincere image.

Despite all of this, it isn’t until the film’s final stretch that the stark simplicity of Lloyd’s story reveals itself to be satisfying. This is a story that is directed to perfection by a woman who sees the whole picture and doesn’t get in the way of the truth. It’s a straightforward story that hatches and grows into a complex organism, one that illuminates the constant daily struggles of empathy and forgiveness. It’s a shame the interest arrives late but underneath all of the wry simplicity is a smart, soulful film that gets half of the equation right, elevated by the ethereal presence of Rogers, acting as a ghostly narrator looking over the complexities of the world and giving it a guiding voice.

3.5/5 STARS