Movie - A Man Called Otto

PG-13 (2:06)

Wide 1/12/23

Viewed date at 2/21/23 at South Point Casino Cinema with Fran

IMBd: 7.6/10

RT Critic:  69  Audience:  97

Critic's Consensus:  Check all cynicism at the door and allow A Man Called Otto to tug at your heartstrings with its tried-and-true tune -- it just might sing. 

Cag:  5/Loved it, unexpectedly 

based on the book A Man Called Ove by (which I didn't read)

Tom Hanks

My comments:  Otto can't live his life without his beloved wife, so decides to end it all, with hilarious consequences.  When the new neighbors across the street, a young transgender guy who loved Otto's teacher/wife, and a stray cat all come into his life at once during a snowy Pittsburg winter, Otto's grumpy, unhappy life changes. Very well done movie...and of course, Tom Hanks plays it perfectly.  His own son is cast as the younger Otto, which I personally think is quite cool.

RT/ IMDb Summary:  Based on the comical and moving New York Times bestseller, A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors. When a lively young family moves in next door, he meets his match in quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down.

Movie - Marlowe

R (1:49)

Wide 2/15/2023

Viewed 2/19/23 at South Point Casino Cinema, Las Vegas with Fran

IMBd: 5.8/10

RT Critic: 23   Audience:  37

Critic's Consensus:  Liam Neeson isn't necessarily a bad fit for the classic character, but Marlowe fails to make a case for itself as either a worthwhile franchise extension or a fun mystery in its own right

Cag:  4 Liked it quite well

Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange

My comments:  Of the three movies I saw this week with Fran, I liked this the least....though I still found it thoroughly entertaining.  Love Liam Neeson.  Loved the 30s setting and all the fancy sets and costumes.

RT Summary:  MARLOWE, a gripping noir crime thriller set in late 1930’s Bay City, centers around a brooding, down on his luck detective; Philip Marlowe, played by Liam Neeson, who is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress (Diane Kruger), daughter of a well-known movie star (Jessica Lange). The disappearance is the first twist in a series of bewildering events, and soon Marlowe is embroiled in a deadly investigation and web of lies that he’s determined to bring to light.

Movie - Missing

PG-13 (1:51)

Wide 1/20/23

Viewed 2/18/23 at South Point Casino Cinema, Las Vegas with Fran

IMBd: 7.3/10

RT Critic: 87  Audience:  90

Critic's Consensus:  Missing can strain credulity in its efforts to keep the audience guessing, but a fast pace and relatable fears keep this twisty techno-thriller from completely losing its way.

Cag:  4.5  Liked it a lot

Actors: no one I knew, all good

My comments:  I loved the premise of this movie, all the sleuthing was done using the internet and with a hired jack-of-all trades in Columbia who only knew a little English, and their discussions were using facetime.  Fast and furious internet abilities, much of the movie was watching the computer screen!

RTSummary:  When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers... and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.