Review of Otto; or, Up with Dead People (2008) by Stephen W — 12 Apr 2008

Otto... is a bit too long and it's almost impossible to work out what's supposedly real and what has been created by filmmaker Medea Yarn. But it has things to recommend it. There's some arresting imagery and the character of Medea is very amusingly observed - some of the lines she delivers deadpan are howlingly funny.

The conceit of having her girlfriend Hella being so melodramatic that she only appears in black & white also works well. Sadly, none of the male characters are as well acted - but I don't think that's the point.

There are a few graphic sex scenes but they are surprisingly tame (even compared to something like Shortbus) - not having seen a BLB film before I was expecting something a bit weirder.