Scott Tady: Ambridge gets screen time with Tom Hanks, Christian Bale and Atlanta rapper

Scott Tady, Beaver County Times
·5 min read
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"Fall in love with the grumpiest man in America" proclaims the poster for "A Man Called Otto," the new Tom Hanks film opening Jan. 13 nationwide.

With scenes shot in Ambridge ― at Stangl's Bakery and the 600 block of Merchant Street, outside the Una Bella Beauty and Wellness Studio and John S. Dunn insurance agency ― "A Man Called Otto" looks like a surefire hit.

Based on the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “A Man Called Ove,” the comedy-drama tells the story of Otto Anderson (Hanks), a grump who no longer sees meaning in his life following the death of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, until he meets the lively, youthful family that moves in next door. The quick-witted and pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño from the Netflix comedy "Club de Cuervos") challenges Otto to see life differently, leading to an unexpected friendship.

"A Man Called Otto" opens Jan. 13.
"A Man Called Otto" opens Jan. 13.

Rated PG-13 for language and mature themes involving suicide attempts, "A Man Called Otto" is directed by Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland"), who describes the Otto character as "a curmudgeon... the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him 'the bitter neighbor from hell.''

Should be a realistic portrayal, as Hanks' performance and the film itself have both already been nominated in the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.

With a cast featuring Rachel Keller (TV's "Fargo"), Manuel Garcia-Rulfo ("The Magnificent Seven"), comedian Mike Birbiglia ("Trainwreck") and Truman Hanks (Hanks' youngest son), "A Man Called Otto" also filmed in Bellevue and at the Sewickley Cemetery.

"A Man Called Otto" tickets are on sale now for screenings at the Cinemark theater in Center Township. The movie also opens Jan. 13 at the newly named Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center in Sewickley.

More:Trailer posted for Tom Hanks movie shot partially in Ambridge

Tom Hanks on an Ambridge street during the making of "A Man Called Otto."
Tom Hanks on an Ambridge street during the making of "A Man Called Otto."

In more Ambridge movie news, beginning this weekend, Netflix customers can watch "The Pale Blue Eye," the Christian Bale film that shot scenes at Old Economy Village.

The Ambridge historic site fits the timeframe of the film, set at West Point in 1830, where a hardened detective is hired to secretly investigate the gory murder of a cadet. Hampered by the cadets’ code of silence, the detective seeks help from a young man the world would come to know as mystery/horror writer Edgar Allan Poe.

A crew member carries equipment at Old Economy Village where filming for the Netflix movie "The Pale Blue Eye" took place Friday in Ambridge.
A crew member carries equipment at Old Economy Village where filming for the Netflix movie "The Pale Blue Eye" took place Friday in Ambridge.

Besides Oscar-winner Bale, "The Pale Blue Eye" also stars Harry Melling (the "Harry Potter" films) and Gillian Anderson ("The X-Files"), and includes a cameo appearance by U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and his wife Gisele. Other recognizable filming sites include Westminster College and McConnells Mill State Park in Lawrence County.

Actors and crew took over much of Old Economy Village for the filming of the Netflix movie, "The Pale Blue Eye" Friday in Ambridge.
Actors and crew took over much of Old Economy Village for the filming of the Netflix movie, "The Pale Blue Eye" Friday in Ambridge.

Nothing like the 'bridge

Ambridge-bred rapper Novi Nov takes fans on a fun cruise through his hometown in the music video for “Nothing Like The Bridge,” the single off his new album "I Can't Sing But I Like Songs 2."

Over a light, breezy beat that lets his clear and distinct vocals shine, Novi Nov raps about how Ambridge forged his work ethic and community pride. Quickly notching thousands of views, the video weaves photos of Novi Nov with rap stars like Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean, and hip-hop radio personality Charlamagne Tha God, amid visual clips of his western Pennsylvania rap performances, his childhood home of Crestview Village, his Ambridge elementary and high schools, and his former Ambridge hangouts like Police Station Pizza and Fred's Divot (the Merchant Street bar he cleverly rhymes with "I just had to pivot.")

A screen grab from the Novi Nov music video about the rapper's hometown of Ambridge.
A screen grab from the Novi Nov music video about the rapper's hometown of Ambridge.

Novi Nov nostalgically rhymes about relatable memories of throwback jerseys and riding bicycles through alleys, in the music video filmed in Ambridge on his mother's 70th birthday.

"My hope for the video is that it helps people in Ambridge and any small town see there is value in being that small town person, kid, woman, boy, girl, man, human," the artist says. "That perspective is welcome in the world. And be fearless with sharing that."

Micol Rankin, who raps under the name Novi Nov, has a new song about his hometown of Ambridge.
Micol Rankin, who raps under the name Novi Nov, has a new song about his hometown of Ambridge.

One of the Beaver Valley's most distinguished rappers in the early 2000s when he also rapped under the name Nova, Novi Nov (birth name Micol Rankin) now dwells in Atlanta where he leads a successful marketing career.

Rankin created several advertising campaigns for Sprite featuring NBA players Trae Young and Anthony Edwards, and won a prestigious Cannes Lion worldwide marketing award for his "Vax That Thang Up" ad campaign aired on NBC's "Today" show, CNN and FOX News.

Creative director for Shaquille O Neal's company Majority, based in Atlanta, Rankin also won awards for his work on the Realtor.com ad "Big Boi House" featuring the famed OutKast rapper Big Boi.

Micol Rankin, who raps under the name Novi Nov, has a new song and video paying homage to his hometown of Ambridge.
Micol Rankin, who raps under the name Novi Nov, has a new song and video paying homage to his hometown of Ambridge.

Rankin/Novi Nov also announced last week a Nothing Like The Bridge merchandise line with sweatshirts and hoodies "inspired by the quirk and charm of Ambridge, Pennsylvania." Check out his clothing brand at nothinglikethebridge.com

A hoodie from the Nothing Like The Bridge merch line from rapper/award-winning adman Micol Rankin/Novi Nov.
A hoodie from the Nothing Like The Bridge merch line from rapper/award-winning adman Micol Rankin/Novi Nov.

Mike's back on the mic

On Jan. 2, Mike Romigh returned as a full-time morning host on Beaver County Radio.

Romigh will handle the 6:30 to 9 a.m. "AM Beaver County" weekday shift for the news-talk stations WBVP (99.3 FM and 1230 AM) and WMBA (95.7 FM and 1460 AM.)

It's the Koppel native's third stint at WBVP-WMBA, dating to the 1980s. Also a former night show host at KDKA-AM (1020) in Pittsburgh, Romigh hosted the Beaver County stations' late-morning Teleforum show from 2014-17, before he moved on to the Beaver County Humane Society. Romigh recently retired and even more recently served as the host of “The Best of Beaver County” and as a fill-in host for talk shows on Beaver County Radio.

Mike Romigh is back on the air fulltime on Beaver County Radio.
Mike Romigh is back on the air fulltime on Beaver County Radio.

Romigh replaces Matt Drzik who now will serve as assistant to Beaver County Radio's new general manager/program director Frank Sparks, a former Teleforum host and news director.

More:January Fun in the Beaver Valley

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Ambridge gets screen time with Tom Hanks, Christian Bale & ATL. rapper