A Man Called Otto Review -You Ought To See Otto's Story To Witness Tom Hanks' Magic

Tom Hanks is the leading man in Marc Forster's A Man Called Otto, an adaptation of a Swedish novel, A Man Called Ove. The first adaptation of the novel was done in Swedish cinema in 2015, and the film received praise from critics and also registered its name in Oscar nominations. A Man Called Otto is a good redo of the same thing, with a slight American touch, which was expected. The film has a decent amount of comedy and drama but falls short on the emotional quotient. Had it been done right, then I guess the final outcome would have been much better.

The film is about a 63-year-old widower, Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), who lives a lonely life. He is literally hated by everyone around him and has retired from a steel company. He decides to end his life, but his constant attempts at suicide are spoiled by his new neighbours, Marisol (Mariana Treviño), Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), old neighbors, whom he now despises, and a cat. Otto recalls his old days, especially his lover and wife, Sonya (Rachel Keller), who is no more, and that's one of the major reasons why he finds his life empty and useless. The overall point here is that life doesn't end with somebody passing away or losing. There is a lot of happiness around you; you just have to look at it and carry on with the perception of living with it.

The film is just a bit more than two hours, and that's a standard runtime for such dramas. Otto's life doesn't bore you as much as his recalling process and flashbacks do. Otto himself is too serious to look funny, even with great punchlines. Thanks to an idiot and not an idiot Marisol, her accent, and some humorous dialogue make you believe that yes, A Man Called Otto is a comedy. The biggest miss of the film is that it fails to create sympathetic attention. A man trying to take his life only because he is retired, has nothing to do, and his wife is dead doesn't collaborate for plausible thoughts. There should have been some solid reasons for him to end things impetuously. Let's just blame the novel for that and keep quiet.

Tom Hanks still has the same magic. This man has done Forrest Gump, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Philadelphia, and Saving Private Ryan two decades ago and yet attempts challenging roles at this phase of his career. Otto proves that his magic is still alive and in proper health too. Truman Hanks does a fine job as young Otto, and the personality does suit Hanks (you know why). The film would have been a cold affair if Mariana Treviño hadn't delivered such a charismatic performance. She is a total riot, man. Mexican or whatever other languages she spoke, I didn't understand, but I loved the way she said them. Rachel Keller looks gorgeous as Sonya, but her role hasn't gotten enough screen time, and the same happens with Cameron Britton. The supporting roles of Juanita Jennings, Mack Bayda, Peter Lawson Jones, and others staged a good show.

A Man Called Otto has been shot in gorgeous locations, and Matthias Koenigswieser's cinematography keeps reminding you of that. The editing isn't that dull, considering the gone dated storytelling and conflicts, but yes, it lacks criso and momentum both. There is something about the music and background that feels so well-organized on occasion. Marc Forster's filmmaking is true to its heart—being a human drama—however, its universal appeal isn't that wide. It's not a great emotional affair—something that makes you whisper. I would have loved to use a pair of tissues myself because I am a sentimental person with my heart in the right place. Why didn't this film tug a ring there? That's the only complaint I have. Rest assured, it's a nice drama with some amazing performances, a few funny moments, and dramatic conflicts. You have to see Tom Hanks carrying the weight here.