It's not always a bad thing to be late to the party, even when it comes to the Oscars. Sony Pictures' "A Man Called Otto" had its first official screening Monday at the Academy Museum, to a packed crowd of voters and industry critics alike. Although the film wasn't really on anyone's radar, the reception was surprisingly enthusiastic based on social media reactions.
After sitting out the best movie discussion of the last three years, Sony has a few hands to play during the season. Aside from Gina Prince-Bythewood's "The Woman King" and J.D. Dillard, Marc Forster's "A Man Called Otto" could strongly appeal to the older population of the Academy, it is sure to bring joyous moments and some tears.
Director: Marc Forster
Writers: David Magee, Fredrik Backman, Hannes Holm
Stars: Tom Hanks, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Beloved actor and "America's Dad" Tom Hanks is back doing what he does best: slipping into an "everyman character" that audiences can't help but root for, despite his glaring human flaws. A two-time Oscar winner for "Philadelphia" (1993) and "Forrest Gump" (1994), he has garnered six nominations throughout his career. One of the most grueling rifts was between his volleyball-loving plane crash survivor in "Cast Away" (2000) and his most recent nod to transform into TV icon Fred Rogers in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" (2019). ), also a Sony film.
Since his turn as Mr. Rogers, some of Hanks' acting choices have been hit or miss. Earlier this year, some critics and audiences scratched their heads at his accent choices as music manager Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" and then again as Papa Geppetto in Robert Zemeckis's "Pinocchio." But in "Otto," he brings a tender portrayal of a broken man, despised by life's dealings with apathy for the people he meets. He could make a play for his lucky seventh best actor career nomination, which has yet to be fully solidified. His “Elvis” co-star Austin Butler is among the contenders, meaning the pair could be nominated for lead actor in separate projects. The last such pairing was Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey in 2014 (they were both in "The Wolf of Wall Street," and the latter was nominated and won for "Dallas Buyers Club").
An adaptation of the novel "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman which was later made into a Swedish film of the same in 2015, "Otto" tells the story of a grumpy curmudgeon who has given up on life after the loss of his wife. . , wanting to end everything. But when a young family moves in across the street, he befriends witty expectant mother Marisol (played by Mariana Treviño), who challenges him to see the bright side of things.
The film is a breakthrough for American audiences for Mexican actress Treviño, who steals multiple scenes and brings undeniable energy and charisma to an utterly mysterious supporting career. Best known for her role in Netflix's first Spanish-language original production, "Club de Cuervos," her hilarious banter with Hanks and actor Manuel García-Rulfo, who plays her not-so-skilled husband. They're wickedly endearing. Do you have a chance to break into a category where big names like Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), Jessie Buckley (“Women Talking”) and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) have dominated the conversation? It's going to be quite an uphill climb, especially at this point in the season when the critics' awards are already being handed out.
The film could play a role in a couple of other runs, notably the adapted screenplay (written by "Finding Neverland" Oscar-nominated writer David Magee) and the original score (beautifully orchestrated by 15-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman). .
There are examples of year-end award success stories like the best picture winner “Million Dollar Baby” (2004). While "Otto" is far from a best picture winner, it is comparable to last year's winner "CODA" (2021) with its feel-good qualities and could likely be a family-friendly holiday season blockbuster.
The film is co-produced by Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Fredrik Wikström Nicastro and Rita Wilson, Hanks' wife of 34 years. Additionally, Wilson writes and sings the original song "Til You're Home," which appears in the middle of the film and over the credits to its full satisfaction. Also featuring the voice of Sebastián Yatra, who sang the Oscar-nominated "Dos orugitas" in "Encanto" (2021), the song only adds to the film's emotional pull and will likely make it onto the original song list when it's announced. in December.
Watch A Man Called Otto 2022 Movie Trailer
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