A Man Called O-T-T-O

Cinematography by Matthias Koenigswieser

I had the chance to watch 'A Man Called Otto' on Netflix last night, and boy did I cry. Even if he occasionally irritated me, Tom Hanks' ability to inhabit his character really made the movie. You wouldn't have been able to pay me to live in his neighborhood at the beginning of the film! But when the end drew closer, I was prepared to step in and assist.

As the plot develops, Otto (Tom Hanks), an elderly man who is enraged by the world, is introduced. Otto's actions and attitude were brilliantly captured by director Marc Forster and cinematographer Matthias Königswieser in the opening sequences and throughout the movie. As indicated before, Otto becomes suicidal after the death of his wife, and as a result, he hardens his heart toward any supporting character that is incapable of taking a hint. Over time, when a boisterous new family settles down across the street, Otto challenged by patience and acceptance in exchange for favor and food. Otto is eager to join his wife on the other side but is frequently interrupted in scenes that are either painfully amusing and just plain awful.

The character of Marisol, played by Mariana Trevio, is a joyful but firm mother who works hard to make Otto and her oddball husband Tommy (Manuel Garcia-Ruflo) look good. There are also other residents in the area, including Malcolm (Mack Bayda), a kind transgender teen who was kicked out of his home by his father, Jimmy (Cameron Britton), a fitness freak, and Rueben (Peter Lawson Jones) and Anita (Juanita Jennings), an old friend of Otto's with whom he is no longer on friendly terms. Not to mention the stray cat that for a while no one seemed to know what to do with.

Never once did a flashback that wasn't essential occur as a result of how seamlessly Forster handled the film's transitions between them. He did a fantastic job of slipping in and out of the action to offer us a taste of Otto's former married life. Overall, this film has the potential to make you laugh or cry. It demonstrates to us that every person's suffering and resentment has a cause. and how love and patience can see behind a person's hard exterior to their true self, even when they don't appear to be in need of it.

Director Marc Forster

Writers David Magee, Fredrik Backman, Hannes Holm

Stars Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Manuel Garcia-Ruflo, Rachel Keller, Truman Hanks, Cameron Britton, Mack Bayda

Rating PG-13

Running Time 2h 6m

Genres Comedy, Drama

Watch the trailer here