Review of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) by Sah R — 29 Jul 2013

I'll admit two things up front: I've never read the book, and I do have an attachment to 9/11 personally.

So, having gotten those out of the way, I'll begin. Story wise, it's not a bad plot. I know a lot have called the film exploitative in using 9/11 as the plot, but I don't think the after effects of tragedies are always explored in films. The side effects are often long, painful, and draw-out which was, coincidentally, what I thought about the film. So, back to the plot. It gets cliched and boring at times (or perhaps at times it isn't) but somehow we end up with a fairly satisfying conclusion. Maybe it's because I have experienced the pain of losing a really close family member in 9/11, but the story hit me hard. I could relate and that may have helped it feel so real to me at least. Plot gets 3/5 stars.

The acting in this film was where I really thought the film shined. Tom Hanks was quirky and lovable as the adored father. Sandra Bullock played the grieving and unloved mother spot on. Max von Sydow was brilliant without ever having said a word as "the renter." Zoe Caldwell was magnificent. Thomas Horn was, at times, brilliant as the grieving kid with Asperger syndrome who has no idea how to cope but loves puzzles and adventures. However, I thought the acting in the voice overs left a lot to be desired which was a shame because they made up most of the movie. Acting 4/5.

Now, to the more technical stuff. The film dragged like crazy. This could have easily been a 1.5 hour film and that film would still feel slow. Pacing was not the highlight of this film by any definition of the word. I thought about quitting many times, but I kept thinking something (anything) was going to happen (nothing huge really happened.) Generally, the camera captured what the audience wanted to see and any given moment, but not always. The music felt familiar and overused (think solo piano with repeating and occasionally changing rhythmic patterns.) The sets and locations, however, were brilliant. Overall production: 2/5.

Worth watching? Maybe. Best film ever? No. Best film I've seen this week? No.