REVIEW: A MAN CALLED OTTO

4/5

Forrest Grump. 

126 Mins. Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Cameron Britton, Mack Bayda, Juanita Jennings, Peter Lawson Jones, Truman Hanks & Mike Birbiglia. Director: Marc Forster. 

Imagine like John Lennon, if working class hero and "America's Dad", Tom Hanks lived next door to you. Won't you be his neighbour? The 'Forrest Gump', 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Philadelphia' star in the acoustic, indie stages of his all-American, Springsteen like storytelling career. This following the quiet and quaint, legacy making greats for the legend 'Greyhound', 'Finch' and 'News Of The World' across several streamers. Sandwiched between big blockbuster's like narrating 'Elvis' as the evil that men like Colonel Parker do and the Disney version of 'Pinocchio' that came out in the same calendar as Guillermo del Toro's Academy Award-winning Netflix animation, pulling Geppetto's strings. HE IS A TOY! For his legendary shouting sake. Woody to be drawstring exact. But this time, Tom is canHANKSerous. Not bad like 'Road To Perdition' (which he still made nice), but mad like the time fans didn't show respect for his wife Ruth Wilson. The amazing actress who executive produces this picture and provides big scores for the soundtrack like rapping son Chet. This is more Clint Eastwood in 'Gran Torino'. Get the f### back off his lawn! 

'A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood' this may not be, but who else really is Mister Rogers? I'm reading a book of his quotes every day, and you have to admire a man who can keep a Bob Ross hope like sunny disposition, lacing that up on the daily. This, based on the 2012 Swedish novel (Fredrick Backman) and 2015 film (Hannes Holm) 'A Man Called Ove' is actually 'A Man Called Otto'. Now don't be disappointed, just because this isn't the biopic of the yellow bus driver from 'The Simpsons' ("my name is Otto. I love to get blotto"). It's actually an engrossing, all-encompassing, sweet suburban story with no drive-thru like Larry David sans car. All from ever versatile 'Monster's Ball', 'Finding Neverland', 'Stranger than Fiction', 'Quantum of Solace', 'World War Z', and 'Christopher Robin' director Marc Forster with feeling. Sure, Otto was out of the Oscars like a slap in the face (last time, we promise), but that doesn't mean this man called isn't worthy of his own award, or academy of nostalgic movies that remind you of why we go on dates with popcorn and condiments and lap it all up 'til the last kernel, Parker. 

A future Sunday afternoon matinée movie to be like 'Larry Crowne'. It's lovely pictures like this that hide more behind the white picket fence lawn curtains. Sure, Tinseltown is guilty of remaking European gems that they have no business or right in doing so, but Otto earns Ove's story and every emotion it displays without any cliché, or a trace of Hollywood schmaltz. It's going to take more than Tupperware meals to get through to this man's heart like Eastwood. One who treats clowns like 'Uncle Buck' and suffers no "idiots." Burnt bridges are going to take time to walk and you better not park on his path. You see, this is a hallmark Hanks with a dark difference in this comedy drama. Suicidal like an aforementioned 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' star in 'Whatever Works', but you won't die laughing. More like cry trying, as a beautiful backstory played perfectly by 'Legion' and 'Tokyo Vice' star Rachel Keller and Hanks own son Truman on this show, is brutal and bracing on a Greyhound. 

'Cast Away' without the new NBA ball, but some. FedEx respect Easter Eggs for your UPS, Hanks must rely on the kindness of strangers we call neighbours to get by. And it turns out they need his help just as much.  Especially with recycling, in moments that will really grab people here in Japan. Even a streetcat, not named Bob, but one that claws itself from looking like an extra in Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary', to being loved like 'Meet The Parents' Dad De Niro loves Mr. Jinks, fockers. 'Mentiras' and 'Narcos Mexico' star Mariana Treviño leads a terrific, neighbouring supporting class with grace. Whilst husband Manuel Garcia-Rulfo ('The Magnificent Seven', 'Murder On The Orient Express', 'Sicario: Day Of The Saldado', 'Widows') continues his top-billing ascent on crutches. A couple of sweet kids and some Polaroid ops, snap Hanks back into cute caricature life before the animated closing credits. Whilst Netflix 'Mindhunter' and Hazel in 'The Umbrella Academy' star Cameron Britton gets his steps in top as a loveable neighbour. But it's Juanita Jennings and Peter Lawson Jones' stroke suffering, wheelchair bound former friend who really strike a chord in this movie that tugs at your strings. Giving hope to the estranged. 

Cynics beware, Hanks may be a crank, but the only bad guy in this is stand-up guy Mike Birbiglia's hip-hop blaring real estate agent who thinks he's found a home digging up grass in his intrusive and obnoxious car. From the beauty that rains from Niagara Falls, to shovelling snow off your drive like it was Canada this film has a huge heart of classic comedy and dark drama. Taking on themes like transgender rights (played powerfully with meaning by Mack Bayda) and suicidal ideation with great responsibility of influence and no box-ticking b.s. wrapped up in a La La Land bow. There's even a moment on smartphone screens that shows how viral the virus of caring more about likes than loving our neighbour has truly become. This Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania story will steal you away. A bittersweet day in the neighbourhood turns out to have nuanced beauty in the darkness, thanks to an outstanding man called Otto. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'A Man Called Ove', 'News Of The World', 'Gran Torino'.