The film stars young actor, and silver screen newcomer, Thomas Horn. Horn plays a precocious and wise beyond his years young boy named Oskar Schell that goes on a journey to find the lock to a key he found of his father's (Tom Hanks), after his death on "the worst day" of September 11, 2001. Oskar embarks on a journey to find the lock to a key, but along the way he finds people with hundreds of stories not dissimilar to that of his own. Stories of family, faith, friendship, love, loss, and essentially, life.
September 11th is the most infamous day in modern American history and that day has shaped the lives of the people that lost someone on that horrendous morning. Extremely Loud is a movie about stories. Everyone has one, and not everyone's story has a happy ending. The one thing that separates us, is simultaneously the very same thing that connects us. Our lives are constantly moving and changing. Nothing stays the same and it is that single fact that makes life difficult and beautiful.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is without question one of the best films of the year. Sandra Bullock, who plays Oskar's mother, gives an impeccable and truly gut-wrenching performance. Tom Hanks is as charming as he was in 1994's Forrest Gump, and you will fall in love with him all over again. Thomas Horn is a young actor that I hope we see much more of. With the Academy Awards on the horizon and the nominees just released, I can confidently say that Horn was robbed of the Best Actor nomination. He absolutely gives one of, if not the best male performance of the year. The Best Picture nominee received, however, could not be more well-deserved.
There are no words that I could personally express that would perfectly explain and illuminate how excellent this picture really is. It's a film for all of us. Go to your local theater and see a real film this weekend. See Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
