MOVIE REVIEW - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

There is lots to discuss about the new movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I was hoping much of the talk would be good. But it will not.

Right up front, if you're thinking you are going to a Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock movie, you are wrong. Very discouraging that they are not the stars of this movie. Hanks is probably on screen for about 15 minutes total, Bullock maybe 20. But in fairness to the movie makers, without those names at the top, no one would go see this. But cutting them that break from their perspective, it doesn't change the fact that they have manipulated most to go see a product that really doesn't exist. What a shame that finally Hanks and Bullock make a movie together, and it turns out to be less than challenging, and less than honest with us.

This movie really stars a young actor named Thomas Horn, who plays a young boy, Oskar, trying to come to terms with the death of his father (Hanks) in the September 11 attacks in the Twin Towers. They were very close and after his death, Oskar is lost. He is distanced emotionally too from his mother (Bullock). Oskar is peculiar kid, who claims he was tested for Aspergers Syndrome, but the tests were inconclusive, but he shows symptoms.

Oskar finds a key in his fathers closet a year after 911, and decides he is going on a search through New York City to find the lock it fits. He is also guarding secrets from September 11, that are eating him up, and he's having a difficult time coping. He meets many people along the way in his search who help him out. Will he find the lock, and feel closer to his father?

This was a big book, and probably should have stayed a book. This movie quite frankly is not very good. Most will feel lied to about who actually stars in it. And in the end, many will feel like they've been through something and wonder why. This movie thinks it's very smart, and it's not. The ending will leave many wondering why they came in the first place. 911 movies are tough still for the public to swallow. The few that have been out since, have had very lukewarm responses from the public. It's just tough to make movies about that tragic day. They just don't seem to work.

Horn is good in this very large role. The supporting cast is very well cast, but are poorly used. In addition to Hanks and Bullocks very limited screen time, same goes for the very talented Viola Davis who is on screen for a just a few short minutes. Horn dominates this movie from start to finish, with Max Van Sydow the actual co-star who is Oskar's grandfather. (No spoiler, you will figure that out long before they movie tells you.)

But who is going to buzz about going to see the new Thomas Horn and Max Van Sydow movie? Yeah, me either.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Not very good.