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Tag: A Man Called Otto

  • Film Facts: 5 Things to Know About ‘A Man Called Otto’

    Tom Hanks is back on the big screen, headlining the heartwarming film A Man Called Otto. In this movie, Hanks plays a grumpy widower whose world is turned upside down when he meets the quick-witted pregnant woman Marisol. Check out the trailer for A Man Called Otto below:

    Before A Man Called Otto hits theaters this week, we’ve rounded up a few facts about the movie that you might want to know. Check them out below:

    1. It’s based on a book.

    The upcoming Tom Hanks film is based on the  #1 New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove by the Swedish author Fredrik Backman. The film will follow Otto, a grumpy old man who lost his purpose in life after his wife died. Ready to end it all, Otto is then interrupted by a lively young family who moves in next door, and with it is the pregnant woman Marisol who dares him to see life differently.

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    Photo: Simon & Schuster website

    2. The book was first adapted into a Swedish film.

    Before this Hollywood flick, A Man Called Ove was actually adapted into a Swedish film of the same name in 2015, directed by Hannes Holm and starring Rolf Lassgård. The first film also received two nominations during the 2017 Academy Awards.

    “Obviously, I was very blessed because there was the novel there, and Fredrik Backman did a great job in the novel balancing it, and there was the Swedish version of the film, which also did a very good job with that,” director Marc Forster told Collider in an interview.

    “There was source material. But then, once we got into the editing, I did a lot of the ins and outs of the flashbacks, which often happens during the suicide attempts. There were often these moments where I had Tom play them, and then Truman played them, as well, Truman Hanks who plays the younger Otto.”

    3. Tom Hanks gets to work with his son Truman in the film.

    Tom’s 27-year-old son, Truman Hanks, is also a part of the film, starring as the younger version of Otto in the flashbacks. Tom told PEOPLE, that working with his son was “special because, you know, I changed his diapers. But you get past that right away because you gotta show up, and you gotta hit the marks, and you gotta do it on time, and you gotta be right there.”

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    Photo: A Man Called Otto trailer

    4. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo was suggested by Tom Hanks to co-star in the film.

    Manuel Garcia-Rulfo who plays Marisol’s husband Tommy, was suggested by Tom Hanks to play the role after working with him in the 2020 movie Greyhound.

    “For me, it’s very hard to do comedy, or at least for me, I feel like I’m not confident enough to do it. But then I heard that Tom was like, ‘No, Manuel. Let’s bring Manuel.’ And I’m like, if Tom says, I have to do it,” shared Garcia-Rulfo in an interview with Collider.

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    Photo: A Man Called Otto trailer

    5. Director Forster on filming Tom’s cat co-star Smeagol.

    Also starring alongside Hanks is the cat named Smeagol. According to director Forster, filming the feline star was not a walk in the park.

    “I think the cat, Sméagol, was probably the toughest one. Sometimes Sméagol just left set and walked off,” Forster shared. “And then, I had to beg the producer for a green screen day because I don’t like CG animals and CG cats. So, then we kept shooting Sméagol on a green screen, and then to comp him into the picture. Ultimately, 90% of it is all Sméagol’s performance, so I was very happy with that. But that was much harder than the kids, or anything else.

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    Photo: A Man Called Otto trailer

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    A Man Called Otto opens in cinemas nationwide this Wednesday, January 25. 

  • REVIEW: The deceptively poignant ‘A Man Called Otto’ hits all the right emotional notes

    There’s something formulaic and expected from A Man Called Otto. The Tom Hanks-led movie operates in that arena of awards-bait feel-good dramas that put the very likable actor into the role of a lovable, angry old man. It’s based on a Swedish film, the 2015 film ‘A Man Called Ove,’ which was based on the Swedish novel of the same name by Fredrick Backman. It’s the story of a grumpy old man, Otto, who oversees the cleanliness and order of his community with a gruff and hostile exterior. He’s strict with everybody and he doesn’t have the time nor the patience to be warm.

    But what Otto is hiding is an overwhelming sense of grief. Early on in the film, it is established that Otto is grieving over the loss of his wife Sonya. So deep are these feelings that he makes an attempt at killing himself but he gets distracted by things that need his attention, and by the appearance of new neighbours: Marisol (the charming Mariana Trevino) and her family.

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    From that premise alone, you can already tell where the film is going to move towards and it doesn’t disappoint. Otto’s community is filled with vibrant and distinct people who annoy him at every turn (though, they are just being themselves) and while everyone has grown accustomed to Otto’s curmudgeon persona, Marisol is not so easily deterred. The Hispanic Marisol must’ve grown up in a large family and close relations with her neighbors from where she’s from and she carries that with her. She carves a space for herself in Otto’s life and both characters change and grow due to this.

    By all accounts, ‘A Man Called Otto’ unfolds and feels like Oscar-bait. Tom Hanks shakes off his nice guy image to play the gruff old man and it doesn’t have the magic of any of his older work. Much like his character from his last film ‘Elvis,’ it feels put on, every grunt feels rehearsed or placed. It’s a performance rather than a lived experience. I was so resistant to the whole thing until halfway through the film, I started to feel things about these people and these characters.

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    There’s an insidious way by which director Marc Forster turns this little community into something so wonderfully universal that it gets under your skin. There are wonderful moments of cinematography and editing where Otto interacts with the memories he has of his wife – Forster manages to show how grief is such a present thing – and how all the little things about Otto’s day-to-day, his routine, and his daily rounds betrays his need to hold on to something. It’s in the little things; the little moments that happen every day that add up into a life and the film presents this in such a subtle and undramatic way.

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    Halfway through the film, I was surprised at how I was reacting. I was getting goosebumps and I was getting invested in the story and, at several important story beats, I found myself fighting back tears. The film doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t, but it is done with such love and tenderness and it is filled with such beautiful humanity that it really got me tender and vulnerable.

    ‘A Man Called Otto’ is a lot of things. It’s about grief and pain and trying to find a reason to continue on after you’ve lost your original reason for living. It’s about community and how we really have to take care of each other. It’s about family – the ones we choose for ourselves – and it’s about growing up and growing old and realising that you are never, ever really alone.

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    There is nothing that happens in this movie that I wasn’t expecting but it still hit me so hard. The way it was unapologetically what it was as a film; I let my guard down thinking it was just one of the same usual feel-good movies that I was not prepared by how hard I would be hit by the film’s third act.

    ‘A Man Called Otto’ is a deceptively beautiful movie blossoming with humanity. Bring tissues.

    My Rating:

    5 stars - Don't Look Up review

    .

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    A Man Called Otto opens in cinemas nationwide on January 25. Buy your tickets here.

  • “A Man Called Otto” Gives Tom Hanks His Most Memorable Role in Years

    Things have gone wrong for Otto. “He’s led this ritualistic life, and then suddenly, everything changes for him,” says Hanks. “His wife has passed away. He is forced into retirement. New neighbors move in. He’s feeling like the only thing he has left is his daily routine, and now he thinks he’s fighting his final battle, against the relentlessness of fate.”

    “The thing that Otto is dealing with really is time – relentless time that passes – and time ends up being both the villain and the hero of the piece,” Hanks continues. “Otto hates the passing of that time. He rebels against the fact that it’s time for him retire. He doesn’t appreciate the fact that his wife got older and she developed the great malady of maladies, and her time was up.

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    “And now, he’s trying to rush time along, to end it all for himself and join her,” says director Marc Forster. “But you can’t do that.”

    That’s why he’s so grumpy, says Hanks. With the passing of his wife, Sonya – a courtship that the film lovingly plays out in flashbacks – Otto has lost the sweetness that makes life worth living. “He knew that he was made different by Sonya,” says Hanks. “And when she was gone, he thought he was never going to have that back again. And in the early part of the film, he’s actually trying to speed along time. But time takes care of itself. You can’t fight it. He lives another day and he goes from a bad day to a better day.”

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    Time takes care of itself with the appearance of new neighbors – who bring Otto into that better day despite himself. “It’s the last thing he’s anticipating as being the great catalyst for the rest of his days,” says Hanks.

    “The thing that fills the void in our lives is each other – ourselves – our neighbors,” says Hanks. “Even if you don’t like each other, even if you have great cultural differences, religion or heritage or politics, sooner or later, they’re going to need your help and you’re going to need theirs. If you don’t know how to bleed your radiators, who are you going to turn to? When the tornadoes always hit, what’s the first thing that happens? Neighbors come out with chainsaws and U-Hauls. A Man Called Otto puts that idea forward – it is a movie about community and a movie about family.”

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    In Philippine cinemas January 25, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto

    Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”

  • Feel-Good Comedy “A Man Called Otto” Holds Sneak Previews Jan 16 & 17

    Based on the # 1 New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol – she challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around. A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, A Man Called Otto shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

    Directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland), A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Mariana Treviño (Club the Cuervos), Rachel Keller (Fargo) and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven). The screenplay is written by Academy Award® nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004) based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. 

    The Los Angeles Times admires that “the film has an easygoing, please-like-me quality that somehow never comes off as desperate but instead gives it a reassuring quality,” while The Chicago Sun Times writes, “It’s another memorable performance from Tom Hanks backed by a crackling good supporting cast.”

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    Hailed as one of the best “feel-good” movies of the year, earning a 97% Audience Rating at review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, A Man Called Otto has wowed US critics with its endearing story and strong performances.

    “Director Marc Forster applies a restrained, subtle approach,” applauds The Hollywood Reporter,  “resulting in a film to which you ultimately find yourself succumbing even though you never stop being aware that your heartstrings are being pulled.”

    For its part, Observer (UK) declares that “All but the most dogged of skeptics will be charmed by the film’s message and the redemptive power of small acts of kindness.”

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    Finally, the Associated Press admires that “Tom Hanks movingly tailors the role to himself. The film does the trick for a little post-holidays heart-warming.”

    In Philippine cinemas starting January 25, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto

    Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”

  • Unlikely Friendships, Unexpected Fates in “A Man Called Otto”

    Based on the # 1 New York Times bestseller A Man Called Ove, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol – she challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around. A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, A Man Called Otto shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

    “Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor. He’s an icon,” says Marc Forster, who directs the film. “He’s extraordinary. Every role he plays, you believe him in it, because he has this incredible heart so you can relate to him. He comes from comedy and is very good in physical comedy, it’s brilliant how he moves and his timing – but at the same time he’s extraordinary as a dramatic actor. In this role, he merges these two skillsets, and that makes Otto unique. You feel him, you laugh at him, you laugh with him, and you cry for what he is going through.”

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    Executive producer Renée Wolfe, who is Marc Forster’s producing partner, says that it is that mix of comedy and big questions that appealed to the director, after previously helming such varied projects from Finding Neverland to the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. “Marc excels at working with actors to bring out the truth and the honesty of a scene,” says executive producer Renée Wolfe. “To watch him and Tom work together to continually evolve the character of Otto, both in a comedic and dramatic sense, was a pure joy. Tom and Marc shared a common creative language on set that was absolutely beautiful to witness.”

    “It’s not easy to make a story that is both personal and at the same time speaks to a universal audience,” Wolfe continues. “In a sense, the character of Otto is a little bit like every one of us. Somewhat Chaplin-like, Otto resonates what much of the world is feeling today – a sense of wanting to connect to each other but not knowing where to start. That’s Marc’s special gift. He saw right away that even though A Man Called Otto is a character study at heart, it was also a story that would speak to audiences everywhere.”

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    “The comedic elements of the story resonate with all of us because they are so funny and so human,” concludes Forster. “We all get angry sometimes, and we can see that in Otto. How many people get road rage? That’s not so far from Otto himself.”

    In Philippine cinemas January 25, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto

    Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”

  • Check Out the Main Poster Art for ‘A Man Called Otto’

    “He likes people…to leave him alone.” Columbia Pictures has released the official main poster art for Tom Hanks heartwarming comedy/drama “A Man Called Otto.” Check it out below watch the film in Philippine cinemas January 2023.

    Based on the comical and moving # 1 New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Experience a funny, heartwarming story about how some families come from the most unexpected places.   

    OTTO INTL Online

    Directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland), A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Mariana Treviño (Club the Cuervos), Rachel Keller (Fargo) and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven). The screenplay is written by Academy Award® nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004) based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. The film is also based on the Swedish film written and directed by Hannes Holm. The film is being produced by Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro.

    In Philippine cinemas 2023, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto

    Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”

  • WATCH: Tom Hanks Gets Grumpy in ‘A Man Called Otto’ Trailer

    Discover what can happen when you let life in. See Tom Hanks as Otto in the official trailer of Columbia Pictures’ heartwarming comedy/drama “A Man Called Otto,” in Philippine cinemas 2023.

    Trailer Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

    Based on the comical and moving # 1 New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower who is very set in his ways. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Experience a funny, heartwarming story about how some families come from the most unexpected places.   

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    Poster Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

    Directed by Marc Forster (Finding Neverland), A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), Mariana Treviño (Club the Cuervos), Rachel Keller (Fargo) and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Magnificent Seven). The screenplay is written by Academy Award® nominee David Magee (Best Adapted Screenplay, Life of Pi, 2012; Best Adapted Screenplay, Finding Neverland, 2004) based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman. The film is also based on the Swedish film written and directed by Hannes Holm. The film is being produced by Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Fredrik Wikström Nicastro.

    In Philippine cinemas 2023, A Man Called Otto is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Connect with the hashtag #AManCalledOtto