Monday, January 2, 2023

Tom Hanks Hustle: A Man Called Otto

 So, Tom Hanks has had a very good year. This is the fourth movie that he has come out this year! I mean if you are gonna pick anyone to watch all of their movies from start to finish it might as well be someone who is as wonderful, and fantastic, as Mr. Tom Hanks. 


This is the story of a Man Called Otto  who is trying to figure out his life after the death of his wife. Otto is trying his best to continue living after the great love of his life passes, but finds that he is struggling a lot more than he thought he would be. He is so devastated that he tries to take his own life through the whole film. However, unlikely characters come into his life during the darkest moments and inadvertently saves him from himself. Through these characters he learns that family may not be the people who you chose to be in your life, but sometimes they come from unexpected places. 

I know that this is a remake of Swedish film called A Man Called Ove. That film was based off of a novel with the same name written by Fredrick Backman. I got the opportunity to see this film twice while it was in theaters, and I loved it. I wasn't really sure when I was going to think about this film. It's the first really serious dramatic role that I can remember that Mr. Hanks had in recent memory. I was really surprised by how much heart this movie had. I was also shocked by how funny it was as well. It's not overly comedic but it balanced out the seriousness of the film. I think the film did a great job of showing what life is for those in mourning. I have been told for basically my whole life that healing is not linear. Truth be told, very few things in life are linear. It seems nothing really is at the point anymore common core math has become a thing! You can find a different kind of love and family even if the person you love most has passed. Loving more people doesn't mean that you loved one person less. I mean, if we are going to be honest, just because someone is not in your life anymore doesn't mean you stop loving them. That could be that you are no longer speaking, or in death, you can still love someone from afar. Love doesn't really know any bounds. It might change how you get to love someone, meaning that if they are not near you physically then you can't talk to them, or hug them, everyday. It just means you have to be more creative about the why you have to show them love. Once way Otto does it in the film is by visiting his wife's grave at least once a week. "Not even death can stop true love, it only delays it a little while" is one of my favorite lines from the movie The Princess Bride. The old I get the me I realize that that is very much true. 

The more films that I watch by the great Tom hanks the more I find him to be one of the most versatile and inspiring actor that I have seen. He has done just about every type of genre that you can do. The only movies that he has been in that have been "bad films" are ones where the writing is not up to snuff, not his acting capabilities. Mr. Hanks' abilities as an actor has really become the hallmark of a great movie over the years. He has been part of so many special classic movies, and the fact that he does an amazing job of bringing characters to live, it's almost guaranteed that any movie he is in is going to be a great film. There are not many actors that you can say that is true for. Not even for the classic actors that I love so much. 

I know that we have a little bit before the next Tom Hanks for comes out but I know that it's going to be well worth the watch when it does come out. I feel like that's one thing I love about movies, you never know when one is going to change your life, or your perspective.     


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