extremely loud and incredibly close.

In my quest to see all of the Best Picture noms before the Academy Awards, I checked two more off the list this weekend:  Midnight in Paris (very charming!) and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

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Based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud is the story of a Oskar Schell, a young boy who lost his father on 9/11.  A year after “The Worst Day”, as Oskar calls it, he finds a key in his father’s closet.  The key is in a small envelope with only the word Black written on the outside.  Convinced that it will lead him to something his father wanted him to find, he sets off on a mission throughout New York City to find the lock that the key fits.  He is determined to visit every person with the last name of Black in each of the boroughs until he finds the owner of the key and his father’s final message.

Throughout the journey, he meets many others who have personal stories from that day and builds a bond with The Renter, played by Max Von Syndow, an older man living with his grandmother.  He also has more than one encounter with Abby and William Black, played by Viola Davis (nominated for her role in The Help) and Jeffrey Wright.  One such encounter with William Black proves to be one of the more poignant scenes in the film.

I vividly remember September 11, 2001 and am completely drawn to the stories about the city on that day, but more so, the survivors and their stories.  Although it’s a fictional tale, I found this film no different.  I was enthralled from the very first scenes.  It is definitely a heart-wrenching story though and I came ill-prepared without any tissues.  A major error on my part as I cried through most of the two hours.

Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks, as Oskar’s parents, are phenomenal, as usual.  They’re two in Hollywood that I’ll see their films just because they’re in them.  Hands down, the standout actor in this one is Thomas Horn, who was absolutely brilliant as Oskar.  For such a young actor, it’s an extremely raw, emotional role, particularly for someone not old .  Pair that with the fact that it’s his first acting job, and he deserves major credit for how well he did.

Although I still need to see four more films to round out the Best Picture category, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close thus far has my pick to win the coveted award.  I know many critics are adamant that it’s not worthy of the Best Picture nomination, but I wholeheartedly disagree.  Perhaps it’s just that 9/11 is really the first national tragedy I so vividly remember and thus hold it close to my heart, but on a larger scale, it’s honest, raw portrayal of how New Yorkers were affected that day and every day after.

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