A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Directed by Marielle Heller. With Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson. Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel. An award-winning cynical journalist, Lloyd Vogel, begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write an Esquire profile piece on the beloved television icon Fred Rogers. After his encounter with Rogers, Vogel’s perspective on life is transformed.