Tom Hanks Made Me Cry
Monday, November 25, 2019 at 6:00PM 
When I woke up this morning I didn’t know that Tom Hanks was going to make me cry before I finished my morning coffee. I made the mistake of reading the NY Times profile of him from last week so early while my emotions were still in a daze. Or maybe that’s just the power of Hanks. Ostensibly an interview to promote A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood, the profile ends up becoming a treatise on what a nice guy Hanks is. As if we had any doubts.
Just the other day on the podcast I was questioning whether any press interviews or media could add anything that we didn’t know already to the very unmysterious Hanks. The trick this profile pulls off is giving up that illusion early on. The writer knows Hanks is nice, the reader knows Hanks is nice so she proceeds to list the many nice things he has done over the years. However the part that really got to me is his simple advise about expectations between parents and children:
“Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think, eventually a parent can do is say I love you, there’s nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do? You offer up that to them. I will do anything I can possibly do in order to keep you safe. That’s it. Offer that up and then just love them.”
The writer admits that he made her cry. So did I. I immediately wanted to call my mother.
Interestingly this writer, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, also profiled Bradley Cooper around this time last year. However that interview ended up being about how Cooper doesn't want to be interviewed and was the start of his cagey campaigning for Oscar that netted no major wins for A Star is Born (2018). These big media profiles still matter. The tone this time is very different, we will have to see how much that affects Oscar. One thing I’m sure of is that having niceness and geniality celebrated in such a big way is duly needed and appreciated.
Have you seen Beautiful Day yet? Has a celebrity profile ever brought tears to your eyes?
Reader Comments (19)
Ok I realize I am in the minority here but I completely bored to tears watching this film. If Hanks is nominated for this instead of his amazing work in Captain Phillips or The Post, it will be a real shame.
Why has no one realized this movie is just a knockoff of PHILOMENA with Tom Hanks in the Judi Dench role ? Crotchety reporter assigned to meet lovable old figure and learn life lessons.
When I can make it through the trailer of this without becoming a puddle and a hat, then I'll be able to watch the film itself.
As for those that aren't into the film, a lot of it for me is my own associated memory library attached to my Mr. Rogers afternoons.
He's as much a part of my life growing up as the fact that he's still the nicest human being to ever teach me a single lesson, on or off screen.
As an immigrant of seven years old, that tends to stick with you.
Tom Hanks is perfect casting--like, written in the stars perfection, and I'm not even a huge Hanks fan.
As far as Bradley Cooper goes: Gee, coming off as egotistically cagey turns people off? I never woulda thunk! As for that Nightmare Alley remake, with Cate Blanchett playing, basically, Proto-Harley Quinn? I'm deeply skeptical.
If someone wants to hurt Tom Hanks say something accurate and negative about his youngest son the wigger Chet Haze.
DAVID- My sentiments exactly
Loved this film and Hanks broke my heart. If I ruled the world, he'd win the Oscar for it (but he has to give back his other two).
I though Tom Hanks cheated his wife at one point so is he so nice guy?
I find Taffy Brodesser-Akner's celebrity profiles as sticky as the candy she's named after. She has a tendency to make herself a major part of every profile, almost as if she wants to do more than bask in the glow of the celebrity du jour: she wants to be one. Notice, for example, the unnecessary inclusion of a lengthy parenthetical in which she references herself 4 times in one sentence. The parenthetical, moreover, serves no purpose other than to insist attention must be paid to her: "(I then told her the story of the time I interviewed an actor in a hotel lobby, where I was so sick that a member of the hotel staff came over and asked if I needed painkillers or a doctor, and the actor not only hadn’t noticed, but continued to not notice even after this happened.)" Note, too, the note of regret she sounds when underscoring the fact that few celebrity profiles these days lead to feature films. Her profile of Bradley Cooper was much worse in this regard and many of the comments it generated (and which can be read via the link above) highlighted this annoying aspect of her writing. She certainly has a style that calls attention to itself and a recognizable "voice." Unfortunately, it's not one I like hearing -- particularly in the context of a profile that ostensibly should be about the person being interviewed.
I can't say the profile brought me to tears, but the film certainly did. Just once, but it is an undeniably well directed and well acted movie. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I found it very moving. I hope people go see it, it's message is very worthwhile.
The film made me cry, made me wanna bawl, but I refrained out of respect for my fellow film-goers, including the two hefty, smelly dudes beside me who wiped away some tears. themselves. The director is a great artist, and so is the star.
Tom Hanks didn't make me cry.
I remained puzzled by the affected performance of Hanks that is not far removed from his memorable achievement in Forrest Gump. I was also taken aback by the director's decision to place the story within Mr. Rogers's Neighborhood (you'll understand when you see the movie).
Once I read the article Can You Say Hero? by Tom Junod, the published piece in Esquire upon which the film draws its story, I understood A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and the filmmakers' approach much better.
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a27134/can-you-say-hero-esq1198/
I must admit two thoughts.
1. I am relieved that director Marielle Heller spared the audience the sight of a nude 70 year old Mr. Rogers in the locker room before his daily swim, an explicitly described moment in the article.
2. I thought Chris Copper quite effectively stole the film from Hanks and Rhys.
I really want to see this film to find out if this is really a good movie / performance or if it's just all you being sentimental about the topic. Being a non american, Mr. Rogers is a stranger to me.
I am a huge fan of Can You Ever Forgive Me? It was in my Top 5 last year. So I can't wait to see this movie.
I have never been able to make it through the atrocious Forrest Gump, so I cannot judge Hanks' performance fairly. But I am a huge fan of his first Oscar win. The film is flawed, but it does pack an emotional wallop, mostly due to Hanks and Washington.
His performance in Captain Phillips is brilliant. However, that year was probably one of the best ever for Best Actor. The lineup is nearly perfect, with the exception of Bale, and Oscar Isaac, Michael B. Jordan and Robert Redford would have all been worthy for that fifth spot, along with Hanks. Truly a great year.
Chris Cooper sneaks into Supporting?
You're drunk Joan. Not a chance.
Tipsy, and just thought I’d ask because every article I read goes out of the way to mention him. Haven’t seen it yet, so thanks for clearing it up. :)
Davide - I completely agree regarding Taffy Brodessar-Akner. I actually blame that Cooper profile at least in part for his Oscar loss last year (Kris Tapley said something similar on twitter).
Volvagia - Have you seen the 1947 version of Nightmare Alley? The character Cate Blanchett’s playing is nothing like Harley Quinn (or Harleen Quinzel). In fact, I think her and Cooper are perfectly cast. Quite frankly, I’m more worried about Guillermo Del Toro directing it. Moral ambiguity isn’t one of his strong suits.