It’s been over a decade since the horrible events of September 11th, and to tell you the truth, I am still not entirely comfortable with Hollywood utilizing that subject material, so when I first saw the trailer for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I thought of the film as nothing more than a shameless attempt to garner votes for awards season. The inclusion of A-list names like Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock was enough to catch the average moviegoer’s attention, but supporting cast members like Max von Sydow and Viola Davis seemed to guarantee a high-quality project. Still, there was one hurdle that I could not get over, and that was young Thomas Horn, who came off as so smug and persnickety in the promotional trailers that I didn’t think I could sit through a two hour drama featuring someone that irritating. Decidedly mixed critical reaction certainly didn’t help reduce my skepticism, nor did rumor that both Hanks and Bullock suffered from limited screen time, but that opinion was challenged when Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close scored an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. As someone who prides himself on seeing as many Best Picture nominees as possible, it was out of mild curiosity and sheer obligation that I decided to see and review Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
In retrospect, I jumped to a snap judgment concerning Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, especially in regards to its young star, Thomas Horn, but that was largely due to a misrepresentation of the character and his motivations. With a newfound understanding, I can see the brilliance and emotion within this drama and its actor’s performances, and as such I now fully agree with the accolades that have thus far been awarded. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock have minimal screen time, but both make the most of this apparent shortcoming, with Bullock especially dominating every second she is on camera. Make no mistake, this Oscar contender attacks the heart, exploiting sensitive material a little too strongly at times, but the overall message sent forth is so positive and life affirming that you will end up smiling through the tears. Exceeding every expectation in relation to acting and storytelling, I cannot emphasize enough how much you have to see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
