Incredibly Loud and Extrememly Close

Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close.

Directed by Stephen Daldry from a book by Jonathan Safran Foer

With Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Max Von Sydow,

Viola Davis, Jeffery Wright, John Goodman, and Zoe Caldwell.

“Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close” is a lot of title for a film, but

it is a lot of film. It deals with the emotional convolutions of a 9-year-old boy in the aftermath of 9/11. 

Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) is a brilliant but quirky boy who has a close and engaging relationship with his devoted dad, Thomas (Tom Hanks), a jeweler. Oskar probably has Asperger’s syndrome, and his dad makes up games and riddles to encourage him to interact with people. Then September 11, 2001, happened and everything changed for Oskar and untold others.

His father was in one of the towers. Oskar calls 9/11 “the worst day.”

Consumed with grief, Oskar is convinced that his father has left him a secret message when he finds a key hidden in the man’s closet. The key is inside an envelope with ‘Black’ written on it. He simply cannot deal with his dad’s death, so instead he focuses on finding the lock for the key. He finds 474 Blacks in the New York phone book.

The hyper-intelligent and insistent Oskar assiduously creates volumes of files, lists and maps.. Thus begins an Odyssey through New York’s boroughs to ask each and every Black if they know what the key fits. Nobody knows anything.

His grandmother (Zoe Caldwell) lives next door and has an elderly and secretive man renting a room at her apartment (Max Von Sydow). The “Renter” joins forces with Oskar and accompanies him on his missions. The renter is a mute who communicates with Oscar by writing. They develop a bond.

Director Stephen Daldry seamlessly directs this emotionally potent story. He is no stranger to such films, having done “The Hours,” “Billy Elliot” and “The Reader.” He understands Oskar’s desperation in trying to cope with life after having lost his anchor and biggest fan, his dad.

This is Thomas Horn’s first film. He was cast after he won Kids’ Jeopardy on TV. He holds his own against the adult actors in “Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close” and captures the intensity of his character.

Max Von Sydow is simply wonderful as the “Renter,’ and adds a touch of humor to this gut-wrenching story. Jeffery Wright is excellent as a man suffering with his own loss. Sandra Bullock does well as the mother who cannot replace Oskar’s Dad for him and suffers through Oskar’s rages towards her.

The score by Alexandre Dexplat carries the movie along.

Some will say that “Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud” is manipulative, but books are written and films are made to manipulate our emotions. Also, the ending is a bit tidy, but that really doesn’t detract from the experience of watching this film. 

“Extremely close and Incredibly Loud” will resonate with New Yorkers because they uniquely understand Oskar’s sorrow. But it will appeal to anyone who has grieved or tried to make sense of the passing of a loved one. “Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud” is a powerful and emotionally delicate film, beautifully acted and professionally produced. There is a reason why it has been nominated for Best Picture for the Academy Awards.