Review of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) by Walter M — 18 Jun 2013

In "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," it has been a year since Oskar's(Thomas Horn) father Thomas(Tom Hanks), a jeweller, died in the World Trade Center on 9/11. In that time, he has not had the courage to venture into his father's closet but curiosity over the urban quests they used to go on together overrides that. But in overreaching himself, Oskar knocks over a vase which contains a mysterious key which he cannot identify what it unlocks. The only clue is the word Black written on the envelope. So, Oskar surmises that is a name, a very common one in New York City which searching for will at least keep him occupied well into puberty, especially considering the first one, Abby(Viola Davis), is a little less than welcoming.

Well, to be honest, one could say that you would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved at least a little by "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close." ...and why is everybody looking at me? Hey, I thought there were some things to like here, especially in its appreciation of New York City and all its boroughs.(Still don't know how the kid got to Staten Island, though.) Plus, there is arguably Sandra Bullock's best performance. But how much can a movie like this succeed when its story is mostly irrelevant?(Maybe Terry Gilliam could have done better and at least toned down the voiceover while adding a little imagination, if the gods were not currently out to get him.) On the one hand, it is a good thing that Thomas was moving heaven and earth to get his kid(who may have Asperger's or maybe just drinks too much coffee) out of his box. On the other hand, no parent can be thrilled with their kid talking to the homeless, no matter how liberal, and forcing someone into an uncomfortable place, no matter the motive, is still wrong.