The film deals with incredibly sensitive subject matter, and that is no simple task for anyone to do without offending somebody. Be it an author, a musician, or a director. Luckily, Stephen Daldry gives us his best. We see the film with the innocence of a child. We hear 9/11 being referred to as "the worst day", we see Oskar ask why they bury a coffin despite not having his father's remains, and more importantly, we see him try to cope with something that so many had to deal with that day, something which no one (especially someone so young) should have to do.
I did not read the book, so I have no idea how faithful the movie is. But the story is pure magic. A year after the tragic events, Oskar enters his fathers closet and finds a key in an envelope that says "Black". He sets out to find out what this unlocks, but along the way he finds that everyone has stories to tell.
Thomas Horn plays the 9 year old Oskar, and also serves as the narrator. He was not an actor. When I say that, I mean that THIS IS his acting debut. Other than one episode of Jeopardy in 2010, he has never been in front of a camera. What I can say is that if his films that follow contain such moving, heartfelt performances, Mr. Horn will have quite the promising career.
Tom Hanks plays the father who unfortunately passes away during "the worst day". To this day, I have never seen a bad performance from Tom Hanks. He retains the charm and wisdom that have made him the star he is today, and in doing so, adds a sense of fatherly that remains when his character is but a memory in Oskar's mind.
Sandra Bullock particularly stood out because she reminded so much of my own mother. She deals with the loss of her husband and the struggles of caring after her son who grows distant with each passing day. The tears on her face are real, and her emotions are touching. Just when you think you won't be seeing her onscreen again, she comes back with more that just makes you want to get out of the theater, call your own mother, and tell her "I love you mom."
Now we come to "Andrew's Standout", and for Extremely Loud &Incredibly Close, that would be Max von Sydow. He plays a character known only as "The Renter". He rents an apartment from Oskar's grandmother. But what you need to know is that he doesn't talk. He isn't mute, he chooses not to talk. He writes his dialogue on his paper and hands it to you. The fact that you can't say how you feel makes it more important to act with your body. Max goes to and beyond physical acting, to the point where you can truly read his face and feel his pain. Not since Chaplin have I seen an actor go to that length and create such a loud silent character. (That's an oxymoron. see the movie to know why that's relevant.)
See this movie. Not just because it's a Best Picture nominee, but because it reminds us all that we have something to look for.
A
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