{"id":6357,"date":"2022-12-09T06:35:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T06:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramolawpc.com\/?p=6357"},"modified":"2023-02-02T06:38:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T06:38:45","slug":"variety-otto-oscars-12-9-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ramolawpc.com\/new\/variety-otto-oscars-12-9-22\/","title":{"rendered":"A Man Called Oscar? Tom Hanks\u2019 Best Actor Bid Shifts Into High Gear With \u2018A Man Called Otto\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A Man Called Oscar? Tom Hanks\u2019 Best Actor Bid Shifts Into High Gear With \u2018A Man Called Otto\u2019: <\/H1>It\u2019s not always bad to be late to the party, even when it comes to the Oscars. Sony Pictures\u2019 \u201cA Man Called Otto\u201d had its first official screening on Monday at the Academy Museum, with a crowd full of industry voters and critics alike. Though the film wasn\u2019t really on anyone\u2019s radar, the reception was surprisingly enthusiastic based on social media reactions.<\/p>\n

After sitting out the best picture discussion for the last three years, Sony has a few hands to play during the season. Aside from Gina Prince-Bythewood\u2019s \u201cThe Woman King\u201d and J.D. Dillard\u2019s \u201cDevotion,\u201d Marc Forster\u2019s \u201cA Man Called Otto\u201d could strongly appeal to the older demographic of the Academy, sure to bring joyous moments and a few tears.<\/p>\n

Beloved actor and \u201cAmerica\u2019s Dad\u201d Tom Hanks is back doing what he does best: stepping into an \u201ceveryman character\u201d that the audience can\u2019t help but root for, despite his obvious human flaws. A two-time Oscar winner for \u201cPhiladelphia\u201d (1993) and \u201cForrest Gump\u201d (1994), he\u2019s assembled six nods over his career. One of the most grueling gaps was between his volleyball-loving plane crash survivor in \u201cCast Away\u201d (2000) and his most recent nod for transforming into TV icon Fred Rogers in \u201cA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood\u201d (2019), also a Sony film.<\/p>\n

Since his turn as Mr. Rogers, some of Hanks\u2019 acting choices have been hit or miss. Earlier this year, he had some critics and audiences scratching their heads with his accent choices as music manager Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann\u2019s \u201cElvis\u201d and then again as Papa Geppetto in Robert Zemeckis\u2019 \u201cPinocchio.\u201d But in \u201cOtto,\u201d he brings a tender-hearted interpretation of a broken man, scorned by life\u2019s dealings with an apathy for the people he encounters. He could make a play to nab his lucky seventh nod for the best actor race, which has yet to fully solidify. His \u201cElvis\u201d co-star Austin Butler is among the contenders, meaning the pair could be nominated for lead actor from separate projects. The last similar pairing was Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew McConaughey in 2014 (both were in \u201cThe Wolf of Wall Street,\u201d with the latter nominated and winning for \u201cDallas Buyers Club\u201d).<\/p>\n

An adaptation of the novel \u201cA Man Called Ove\u201d by Fredrik Backman that was later made into a Swedish film of the same in 2015, \u201cOtto\u201d tells the story of a curmudgeon grump who has given up on life following the loss of his wife, wanting to end it all. But when a young family moves across the street, he builds a friendship with quick-witted, pregnant mother Marisol (played by Mariana Trevi\u00f1o), who challenges him to see the brighter side of things.<\/p>\n

The film is a discovery for American audiences of Mexican actress Trevi\u00f1o, who steals multiple scenes and brings undeniable energy and charisma to an utterly mysterious supporting actress race. Best known for her role in Netflix\u2019s first-ever Spanish-language original production \u201cClub de Cuervos,\u201d her hilarious banter with Hanks and actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, who plays her not-so-handy husband, is wickedly endearing. Does she have a chance to break into a category where big names like Angela Bassett (\u201cBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever\u201d), Jessie Buckley (\u201cWomen Talking\u201d) and Jamie Lee Curtis (\u201cEverything Everywhere All at Once\u201d) have dominated the conversation? It\u2019ll be quite an uphill climb, especially this late in the season when critics\u2019 prizes are already being handed out.<\/p>\n

The movie could play a factor in a couple of other races, notably adapted screenplay (written by \u201cFinding Neverland\u201d Oscar-nominated scribe David Magee) and original score (beautifully orchestrated by the 15-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman).<\/p>\n

There are examples of end-of-the-year awards success stories like the best picture winner \u201cMillion Dollar Baby\u201d (2004). While \u201cOtto\u201d is far from a best picture winner, it\u2019s comparable to last year\u2019s winner \u201cCODA\u201d (2021) with its feel-good qualities and could likely be a box-office family hit of the holiday season.<\/p>\n

The film is co-produced by Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Fredrik Wikstr\u00f6m Nicastro and Rita Wilson, Hanks\u2019 wife of 34 years. In addition, Wilson writes and sings the original song \u201cTil You\u2019re Home,\u201d featured in the middle of the film and over the wholly satisfying credits scroll. Also featuring vocals from Sebasti\u00e1n Yatra, who sang the Oscar-nominated \u201cDos Orugitas\u201d in \u201cEncanto\u201d (2021), the track only adds to the emotional tug of the film and is a likely entry on the original song shortlist when it\u2019s announced Dec. 21.<\/p>\n

The obstacle for Sony Pictures will be getting voters to watch the film before turning in their ballots. \u201cOtto\u201d will surely appeal to the older demographic of the Academy, with great potential for substantial crossover with others.<\/p>\n

See the latest film predictions, in all 23 categories, in one place on Variety\u2019s Oscars Collective. To see the ranked predictions for each individual category, visit Variety\u2019s Oscars Hub.<\/p>\n

View this article at Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Man Called Oscar? Tom Hanks\u2019 Best Actor Bid Shifts Into High Gear With \u2018A Man Called Otto\u2019: It\u2019s not always bad to be late to the party, even when it comes to the Oscars. Sony Pictures\u2019 \u201cA Man Called Otto\u201d had its first official screening on Monday at the Academy Museum, with a crowd
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