Naomi Weisman is a Canadian, Australian and mother of three, who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
A Man Called Otto stars Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, and Truman Hanks. I did not go into this film with high hopes. Big blockbuster films starring mega stars often leave me wanting. I did expect Tom Hanks to do his usual thing and that it would be a pleasant night at the movies.
I read the book that this movie is based upon, A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman, almost a decade ago, and I didn't remember much about it except that I liked it. So, off I went, doing my due diligence to be ready for the Academy Awards and to beat my friend in our yearly Oscar competition.
Well, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it true to what I could remember of the book, but it was not a movie that glossed over the mental health aspects of the content. It dealt head-on with ideas of suicide, loss of love, feeling displaced in a fast-moving world, and feelings of frustration.
Mariana Trevino, who plays the lovingly meddlesome Mexican neighbor to Hanks's cranky suicidal curmudgeon, is absolutely brilliant. Tom Hanks is, of course, fantastic in his role, but Trevino is astonishing. She is the heart and soul of this film. Alas, she was not nominated for an Oscar, which was a disappointment.
All is to say that this film is a pleasant surprise. It is more than the sum of its parts. You will laugh, sigh, and cry.
It's a thumbs-up from me. Enjoy my Sole Sisters, and let me know what you think in the comments!
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