A Man Called Ove (2015 & released in USA 2016)
PG-13 l hr. 56 min.

subtitled format, currently streaming on Amazon Prime (watched 09-22-17)

While I had heard about this film, I had not never viewed it, until a recommendation on an episode (on YouTube) of Collider Videos-Movie Talk (09-22-2017 edition). My impression from just briefly reading reviews in 2016, was that it was slow-moving story about a grumpy old man. While it does contain those two factors, this film is so much more.

A Man Called Ove was funny, clever, great dialogue, beautifully shot scenes and even a great soundtrack for the movie's conclusion. This is a Swedish movie, so there is angst, bittersweet themes and more acting than action. It is very nationally telling that in Sweden, this film is considered a comedy. While it did go dark and emotional, it never pandered. The humor was blended smoothly into the story. My attention was held throughout the entire runtime. Ove's journey from childhood, to a newly wed and finally an old man flowed smoothly even with the occasional flashbacks. These breaks from the current timeline of Ove's old age were expertly inserted by the director (Hannes Holm) and editor (Fredrik Morheden) with no unnecessary exposition. Every actor portrayed a believable human,not just a manufactured character. Tom Hanks' production company, Playtone, will be remaking this film with Tom Hanks attached to star as the Ove character. While Tom Hanks is probably the best choice for Ove, I hope that this remake does not become a pale copy of the original film.