Tom Hanks in ‘A Man Called Otto’ Still | Photo credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment
OTTO (Tom Hanks) would have you believe he’s a 21st century Scrooge. A stickler for rules, he makes fun of neighbors who don’t sort their trash and keeps their pets at arm’s length. Like the machines he loves so much, Otto is mechanical with his routines and cautious with his emotions.
David Magee’s adaptation of Friedrich Beckmann’s bestseller A man called Oo. A 63-year-old widower struggles with grief after losing his wife to cancer.
Otto tries to isolate himself from the people around him and plans to die by suicide until his new neighbors move in and rob him. Marisol (Mariana Trevino), an immigrant mother of two adorable daughters and wife of Tommy (Manuel Garcia Ralpho), an IT guy, sees life as a glass half full. On their first day in the new house, she brings a box. Pollo con til (chicken in sesame sauce) to Otto because he thought he looked like a “hungry man”. She forces him into situations that require him to develop compassion and love – from asking her to be his driving instructor to turning him into a babysitter at her convenience – and his spirit. Breaks Otto’s tough exterior.
A Man Called Otto (English)
Director: Mark Forster
The cast: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rolfo
Run time: 126 minutes
The story line: Otto, a 63-year-old widower, lives her life in grief and making fun of neighbors who don’t sort their garbage. He isolates himself from people and plans to die by suicide until new neighbors move in and their spirits begin to crack through Otto’s tough exterior.
Director Marc Forster doesn’t treat the old man with kid gloves. He allows it to enrage and delight the audience and thereby brings us closer to understanding an old man trying to save the meaning of life. The filmmakers want us to leave our frustrations at the door and embrace the grumpy old man.
Tom Hanks, an actor with more than 95 acting credits and two Academy Awards to his name — and a nominee for two Golden Raspberry Awards for his performance in Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic “Cinema’s Worst Fails” Have the honor of Elvis and the live-action Disney remake Pinocchio – Free Struggle with his performance as Otto; assures us that this is only the beginning of his redemptive arc. Mariana Trevino also successfully established her screen presence with her brilliant portrayal of Marisol. Supporting actors such as Manuel Garcia-Ruffalo, Rachel Keller, Cameron Burton, and Juanita Jennings successfully bring a community to life.
The 126-minute film highlights the importance of community and the shared sense of belonging that drives Otto to survive. Watching Otto deal with the moments of hopelessness and self-doubt that weigh heavily on his conscience will surely tug at your heartstrings. However, all the tears are worth it. Overall, the film feels like a warm hug from a dear friend.
A Man Called Otto is currently playing in theaters.
