Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a f... Read allOtto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.
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It deals with mental health issues like loneliness, loss and depression in a sensitive manner. The acting is good with Tom Hanks giving his usual outstanding performance. The writing is mostly solid but gets a little too on the nose in parts. My main criticism is it could have used a little more editing, but that seems to be an issue with most movies today. It was about 20 minutes too long.
I streamed this but would've been fine paying to see it in a theater. Definitely worth watching.
It's obvious that Tom Hanks had studied the original in minute detail, he really did justice to the portal of the character, owning it but demonstrating awareness of how brilliantly the original Swedish actor had delivered the nuances of this unique depressed and cantankerous old man.
I struggle with subtitles but really enjoyed the Swedish version and recommend you watch it if you enjoyed this one.
I did not have the experience of the original book or film so I went into this with no particular expectations. It's been a long time since a movie touched me in this way.
Tom Hanks excels as Otto in a character so unlike any other he has played before. His own son played his younger self which added a level of authenticity to the role. The supporting cast brought a mix of humour and pathos resulting in beautiful and moving film that hit all the right notes.
Don't go and see this without tissues folks!
I'd be lying if I said I didn't fall for this movie, unashamedly, hook, line and sinker.
I was expecting the usual something got lost in translation approach from the Americans and churned out sappy cinema, but it wasn't.
Sure it plays on your vulnerable human emotions and you'd have to be made of stone or even more cynical than me not to get the feels as the cool kids say.
I admit that to date I haven't read the book or seen the original Euro version that was the highest grossing foreign film of 2016 in the US, so I don't have those reference points, but what I do know is the Hollywood version deals with some very contemporary issues of social media, transgender and unscrupulous property development well.
The story goes, despite being deposed as head of his gated community (over a valid issue) our grumpy 60 something retiree Otto continues to watch over his neighbourhood with an iron fist.
Checking the gates are closed to through traffic including slimy property developers, also sorting out parking permits and recycling bins on his daily rounds.
When a pregnant new neighbour and her family (including dim witted husband and two gorgeous daughters) move into the house opposite Otto and a stray cat lands on his door step, it sets off a chain of events that changes his life for the better (mostly).
Tom Hanks is "Otto" and is brilliant in his own understated acting style.
He's got to be Oscar bait for this moving role.
Any lesser American actor could have turned this film into a schmaltzy, sugar coated affair.
Otto will make you laugh, cry and sigh so pack some tissues.
"A Man Called Otto" is a beautiful love story retold in timely flashbacks from the present to the past that don't jump all over the place like some movies do leaving you feeling disoriented.
Hanks real life son, Truman, plays "Otto" in his youth.
As the movie progresses you learn where the pain comes from in his life as he opens up like a box of chocolates.
This is my first film review for 2023 and if the rest of this years flicks can be this damn fine I'll be a happy camper.
"A Man Called Otto" has set the bar high for everything that follows.
This is a must see movie for anyone with a big heart.
The film has wonderful intentions which you can't fault.
Tom Hanks does an adequate job of playing a hurt, bitter curmudgeon who has had a difficult life full of loss. I think other actors willing to be disliked would have done a better job.
Most of the supporting cast is wonderful.
Be kind to others. Give them their space. You have no idea what they have been through. A person who takes a long time to warm up to you can end up being more loyal and kinder than those who constantly smile in your face.
Did you know
- TriviaThe young Otto is played by Truman Hanks, Tom's son, who was 26 years old during principal photography.
- GoofsWhen the younger Otto is seen by a doctor and denied military service, the chest x-ray does not show an enlarged heart, as can be seen in cardiomyopathy, but a massive tumor in the upper part of the left lung.
- Quotes
Otto Anderson: [to Marisol] You have given birth to two children. Soon it will be three. You have come here from a country very far away. You learned a new language, you got yourself an education and a nitwit husband and you are holding that family together. You will have no problem learning how to drive. My god, the world is full of complete idiots who have managed to figure it out, and you are not a complete idiot. So, cluch, shift, gas, drive.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Un Vecino Gruñón
- Filming locations
- Central Union Terminal, Toledo, Ohio, USA(Train Station)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $50,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $64,267,657
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $56,257
- Jan 1, 2023
- Gross worldwide
- $113,360,085
- Runtime2 hours 6 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1