Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
We make simple choices every day: to get out of bed in the morning, go to work, take out the garbage, decide who our friends are, stay single or get married etc.
We like to think about it as free choice; the bible refers to it as free will.
Upon closer examination we may realize that sometimes our emotions, desires or circumstances can heavily influence or sway our choices in subliminal ways.
Readers may recall several years ago that I spent the afternoon at Schulman’s Movie Bowl Grille watching A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, an American drama inspired by the 1998 article “Can You Say…. Hero” about Fred Rogers aka Mister Rogers.
He was the host of the popular long-running television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
The movie was highlighted by excellent reviews and Oscar buzz around Tom Hank’s performance.
I had several options for movies to see, but ultimately A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood won out.
I was in the mood for a healthy dose of kindness.
I went alone to see the movie during a weekday matinée and found myself sharing the entire theatre with one other lady.
We both laughed when we realized we had the place to ourselves.
I told her I was looking for time to spend alone with Mister Rogers; she concurred.
One-hundred and seven minutes later, I was wiping away tears and found myself hugging and exchanging numbers with my new theatre friend.
In the movies, magic happens when you have a wonderful screenplay, a top-notch director and authentic, method actors.
Method acting is a technique used by actors to fully identify emotionally with a character or part.
This technique goes all the way back to the 1930s.
Only a handful of actors have attained the distinction of a method actor.
Magic comes into play when the screenplay, director and method actors transport the movie goers into the film.
Like a perfect recipe, all the ingredients must be measured, and the instructions must be followed to the smallest detail.
This movie delivered the magic and did it on a budget of $25 million.
As much as Mister Rogers sought to entertain his young viewers in a loving and compassionate environment, he tackled emotional topics with the goal of helping make sense of the raw circumstances that they might well be encountering in their own life.
This movie was written for adults saddled with their childhood emotional baggage that heavily influences their free choices.
The supporting character, Lloyd Vogel, an award-winning journalist, finds himself navigating both seismic personal and career conflicts that land him in the presence of Mister Rogers for an interview.
Reluctantly, Lloyd accepts the challenge with the intent to expose Rogers for the fraud he thinks he is.
What a roller coaster ride the movie goers embark on.
It’s a classic in my opinion.
In other words, just as I recommended previously, search Netflix or Hulu for this movie gem if you haven’t seen it, and experience the ride of your life.
This journey into your history of free choice will cast a light on the emotional chains that bind you to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
Take a chance on this movie.
There’s nothing like returning to the old neighborhood.
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com