Young Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) and his jeweler father Thomas (Tom Hanks) used to explore the geographic wonders of New York. But then his father dies in the World Trade Center on 9/11 (aka "The Worst Day"). His relationship with his mother Linda (Sandra Bullock), like all other of his relationships, is quite difficult.
And then, a year later, Oskar finds an envelope with the word "Black" on it and a key inside. But where exactly does the key go? To find the answer, Oskar has to search all of New York and meet and greet a whole bunch of people.
It sounds great on paper, where its story originated thanks to Jonathan Safran Foer's novel. But on screen, realized by director Stephen Daldry, there's a problem. Its problem is that it frequently goes overboard on emotional moments and its portrayal of Oskar's eccentricities. On a big screen, these moments are indeed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. And that equals too much.
However, it's the presence of two veteran stars that eases things a bit. One of them is Tom Hanks, who plays the perfectly fatherly figure. The other is the film's Oscar-nominated cast member, Max von Sydow, who plays Oskar's mysterious mute neighbor. Even if his identity is far too obvious the moment it is hinted, von Sydow's scenes were also the most honest.
There are parts in the story which could've made the film better if they were better executed. And it's this potential that makes me place Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close down in the middle instead of the bottom. Perhaps you could find it a lot better than me if you see it yourself.
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