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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Release Date 17 Feb 2012 17 Jul 2012

  • User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • Critic rating
  • Currently 1/5 Stars.

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Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" tells the story of one young boy's journey from heartbreaking loss to the healing power of self-discovery, set against the backdrop of the tragic events of September 11. Eleven-year-old Oskar Schell is an exceptional child: amateur inventor, Francophile, pacifist. And after finding a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on 9/11, he embarks on an exceptional journey—an urgent, secret search through the five boroughs of New York. As Oskar roams the city, he encounters a motley assortment of humanity, who are all survivors in their own ways. Ultimately, Oskar's journey ends where it began, but with the solace of that most human experience: love.

Cast:
Tom Hanks | Sandra Bullock | Thomas Horn | Max Von Sydow | James Gandolfini

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  • Critic rating
  • Currently 1/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE (USA/12A/129mins) Directed by Stephen Daldry. Starring Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Zoe Caldwell. THE PLOT: Self-confessed, 10-year old science geek Oskar (Horn) grew up going on quests set by his loving father, Thomas (Hanks), the latter hoping his only child would be forced to come out of his shell by meeting strangers. Even if it meant searching for clues to the ‘lost’ sixth borough down amongst Manhattan’s homeless. A year after his father perishes in the 9/11 attacks, pint-sized philosopher Oskar has decided to go on a quest of his own, after he finds a key his father had hidden, the name Black scribbled on the envelope. There are thousands of Blacks living in Manhattan. And Oskar is determined to meet each and every one of them, in the hope of solving what he sees as his late father’s final challenge. Cue a very, very long montage. With lots of crying. And hugging. All watched over from a distance by a dazed and confused mum (Bullock, sporting her saddest Lake House face), and gradually aided and abetted – after a little Rear Window suspicion - by the mute old lodger (von Sydow) lodging with Oskar’s neighbouring grandmother (Caldwell). THE VERDICT: That this film should be included in the Best Picture nominations at this year’s Oscars whilst the likes of Drive, Shame and even the final Harry Potter outing were shut out speaks volumes about Tinseltown politics. Hanks still has friends in high places, even if no one is going to his movies anymore. A feelgood movie set against 9/11 that plays out like a Reader’s Digest article that got out of hand, Extremely Cloying & Incredibly Annoying is actually based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2005 bestseller. Should Foer release his book today, it probably wouldn’t have half the impact. Or sales. This is like Wes Anderson if all he cared about was the box-office. It’s Eat, Pray, Love, for kids. Former movie stars Hanks and Bullock try very hard to play it small and cute, but they merely end up extremely cloying. And incredibly irritating. Rating 1/5

 

Review by Paul Byrne

  • Avg User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

    • Currently 4/5 Stars.

    dainiux

    A mixed bag of intelligent tragedy and poor choices, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has the ability to tug at the heart strings - it just gets them a bit tangled.

    • Currently 2/5 Stars.

    filmbuff2011

    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close is an adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's second novel, charting the emotional and spiritual journey of 13-year-old Oskar as he comes to terms with his father's death on "the worst day" (i.e. 9/11). Played with conviction by newcomer Thomas Horn, he's the best thing about this otherwise very muddled and misconceived film. It starts well, but your tolerance for the precocious Oskar will depend on how long you can follow him as he tracks down a lock to fit the key his father left behind for him. Like Mavis Gary in the recent Young Adult, he's a character you just want to shake and tell him to wake up to reality. Most of the adult actors are thinly sketched, apart from Max Von Sydow's touching grandfather figure. What's most striking about this mediocre film is that it's been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. That's frankly baffling, considering so many other great films like Drive and Shame were shut out of the Best Picture category. This film isn't quite as bad as the critics have made it out to be, but it's not a great film either. Give it a miss and maybe catch it on TV at some point.

    • Currently 3/5 Stars.

    mart

    Daldry draws a memorable and believable performance from the youngster, who had never acted before but who has to carry the bulk of the film's narrative on his slender shoulders.

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