The surprise nominee and the underdog in the Academy Award Best Picture category, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close follows Oskar Schell, a young boy with a unique perspective on the world. He embarks on a mission to keep alive a connection to his father who died in the Towers on 9/11. Although the underlying catalyst of the story is the terror attack, the film is driven by a powerful determination to find meaning in life. The top-billed cast members to draw attention to this work are Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, but the real star is newcomer Thomas Horn. This young boy's performance is absolutely superb. The mass amount of vocabulary-filled lines paired with physical involvement with his character's emotion can be a challenge for even the most seasoned performer. Rightfully he's earned a Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actor and two other awards for his breakthrough role.
I was particularly drawn to this film since I was around the same age as Oskar Schell when the attacks occurred. I can still recall exactly where I was when it happened, the look of quiet panic in the adults' eyes, and the sight of the black sky over lower-Manhattan. I believe this film exploits an important perspective on "the worst day" since children have an extraordinary ability to absorb their surroundings, and process the information at a later time.
Granted it may not be a film for everyone, as many films are not, but the message is a reminder of what is important in life. Sometimes you have to lose yourself in order to be found, and sometimes when you experience a tragedy it takes courage to willingly take part in the adventures that are ahead of you.
"If things were easy to find, they wouldn't be worth finding."
I'm looking forward to seeing this movie as well, I read the book a very long time ago so I was happy when I found out they were making it into a movie. Have you read the book?
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