Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011) is a movie about a little boy holding on to the last thing he thinks his father left him: a key which he thinks will tell a story. His father, Thomas (Tom Hanks), died in the World Trade Center on September 11th and both his son, Oskar (Thomas Horn), and his wife, Linda (Sandra Bullock) have to find a way to deal with their loss. Oskar can't seem to let it go, and then he finds a key. Will he find a final message from his father?
The trailer
In the first seconds of the trailer we hear a voice over, a boy, who says that his father told him he is special. A bond is created and when you see Oskar at home with Linda and Thomas you know they are a tight, happy family. The images slow down and tragedy strikes. In an instant you know it's the WTC and when you see Linda on the phone you know Thomas hasn't survived. It creates the expectation that that's what the movie is about, but actually that's only the beginning. Oskar finds a key and wants to know what it fits so he goes on an expedition. A beautiful song by U2 plays over the images of the young boy searching, meeting interesting people and touching their lives. It sweeps you up and takes you away with the images. What also stands out is that the cinematography has some pretty rare shots in them, which sells the trailer.
In the first seconds of the trailer we hear a voice over, a boy, who says that his father told him he is special. A bond is created and when you see Oskar at home with Linda and Thomas you know they are a tight, happy family. The images slow down and tragedy strikes. In an instant you know it's the WTC and when you see Linda on the phone you know Thomas hasn't survived. It creates the expectation that that's what the movie is about, but actually that's only the beginning. Oskar finds a key and wants to know what it fits so he goes on an expedition. A beautiful song by U2 plays over the images of the young boy searching, meeting interesting people and touching their lives. It sweeps you up and takes you away with the images. What also stands out is that the cinematography has some pretty rare shots in them, which sells the trailer.
The actual movie
Oskar is a special kid, it's how he's portrated. He's different, but he's been 'tested' and he doesn't have any kind of condition. He's just different. This makes it hard to relate to him. The relationship he has with his father should be close and you can see it in the way they spend time together and on their little expeditions. But it's never extremely convincing. This is mostly because of the voice over that will not stop. Voice overs can work, but in this movie it doesn't. It explains to much, which makes it hard to really get into the movie. Other than that, Oskars voice doesn't have a lot of emotion in it that could carry you through that. The moment where Thomas dies is short and after that, the role played by the mother becomes smaller and smaller in the movie. They seem to have grown apart, dealing with the loss of the most important man in their lives in their own way.
Oskar is a special kid, it's how he's portrated. He's different, but he's been 'tested' and he doesn't have any kind of condition. He's just different. This makes it hard to relate to him. The relationship he has with his father should be close and you can see it in the way they spend time together and on their little expeditions. But it's never extremely convincing. This is mostly because of the voice over that will not stop. Voice overs can work, but in this movie it doesn't. It explains to much, which makes it hard to really get into the movie. Other than that, Oskars voice doesn't have a lot of emotion in it that could carry you through that. The moment where Thomas dies is short and after that, the role played by the mother becomes smaller and smaller in the movie. They seem to have grown apart, dealing with the loss of the most important man in their lives in their own way.
Deaths and bringing people together
When Oskar finds the key, he goes on a final expedition for the last message his father has left him. He lies to his mother and goes to every 'Black' (the last name he found with the key) he can find. It causes him to step outside of his comfort zone as well as meet new people. When he tells them about the key, his father and the WTC, how can people not be touched? However, these moments are short and there aren't that many. The magic of finding out who those people are and how they deal with their lives remains unknown. It doesn't mean that it's less important, but it also doesn't make clear what the point of it is. Oskar has a list and before you know it, he has had a lot of Blacks. But you haven't seen it. This makes you wonder why it was even shown at all.
There is one person who really matters. That's 'The Renter', he will help Oskar on his expedition. Once again Oskar has someone to talk to and feel close to. He can share his search and even more important the real reason behind it. These are some of the most touching scènes. Other moments (which are also shown in the trailer) are when Linda gets a call from Thomas and when Oskar says 'I love you' through the door. They really cut into you. The first one because it makes you experience (or at least think about) what it must have been like for the people who got those calls and knew they couldn't do anything to help. The desperation, the powerlessness. Nothing else is needed in these scenes and that's all Sandra. She plays these moments so well, with just the right amount of emotion and fear that it takes you with her. What the boy lacks in empathy and emotion, you can find it all in her.
(Sandra Bullock talking to Thomas on the phone - I don't own this picture)
The specs
While the music was very convincing in sweeping you up in the story in the trailer, there was a definate lack in the movie itself. Usually a soundtrack is provided and this helps to really feel the emotions that the character is feeling. Whether it's the character or the lack of strong accompaning music, I don't know. The cinematography is that much better. Chris Menges is responsibly for this one and he has done a fine job. There are some ingenius ways in which he lets the viewer experience Oskars world. It's chaotic at times and overwhelming, but on others it can be serene or just plain unclear. Other shots are more playful. Like when Oskar holds a mirror on a stick to spy on his parents talking (and later kissing) in the kitchen. It's a touching shot, because it shows the inventive and nosy character that Oskar is, as well as a private moment between two parents.
While the music was very convincing in sweeping you up in the story in the trailer, there was a definate lack in the movie itself. Usually a soundtrack is provided and this helps to really feel the emotions that the character is feeling. Whether it's the character or the lack of strong accompaning music, I don't know. The cinematography is that much better. Chris Menges is responsibly for this one and he has done a fine job. There are some ingenius ways in which he lets the viewer experience Oskars world. It's chaotic at times and overwhelming, but on others it can be serene or just plain unclear. Other shots are more playful. Like when Oskar holds a mirror on a stick to spy on his parents talking (and later kissing) in the kitchen. It's a touching shot, because it shows the inventive and nosy character that Oskar is, as well as a private moment between two parents.
Books and movies
When I watched the trailer I was enthousiastic and I couldn't wait to see this movie. It would be different because it wasn't about 9/11, but about the aftermath in a small family. Unfortunatly the movie did not deliver. There are certainly some beautiful moments, that make it a movie worth watching. Not to mention a very fitting conclusion that makes it a movie close to reality. It's not one of those overly commercial movies but beautiful in it's simplicity. But in the overall picture, if you want a good story that you can get lost in and where you can get close to the character, you're probably better of reading the book.
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