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IMDbPro

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

  • 2011
  • PG-13
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
107K
YOUR RATING
Thomas Horn in Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Play trailer2:34
16 Videos
95 Photos
Coming-of-AgeQuestAdventureDramaMystery

A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on... Read allA nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

  • Director
    • Stephen Daldry
  • Writers
    • Eric Roth
    • Jonathan Safran Foer
  • Stars
    • Thomas Horn
    • Tom Hanks
    • Sandra Bullock
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    107K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stephen Daldry
    • Writers
      • Eric Roth
      • Jonathan Safran Foer
    • Stars
      • Thomas Horn
      • Tom Hanks
      • Sandra Bullock
    • 421User reviews
    • 280Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 26 nominations total

    Videos16

    No. 2
    Trailer 2:34
    No. 2
    No. 1
    Trailer 2:32
    No. 1
    No. 1
    Trailer 2:32
    No. 1
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: How Come You Don't Speak?
    Clip 1:00
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: How Come You Don't Speak?
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: My Dad Was In The Building
    Clip 1:14
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: My Dad Was In The Building
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: What's He Looking For?
    Clip 0:42
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: What's He Looking For?
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: Was There Really A 6th Borough?
    Clip 1:06
    Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close: Was There Really A 6th Borough?

    Photos95

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    Top cast68

    Edit
    Thomas Horn
    Thomas Horn
    • Oskar Schell
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Thomas Schell
    Sandra Bullock
    Sandra Bullock
    • Linda Schell
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • The Renter
    Zoe Caldwell
    Zoe Caldwell
    • Oskar's Grandmother
    Dennis Hearn
    • Minister
    Paul Klementowicz
    Paul Klementowicz
    • Homeless Man
    Julian Tepper
    • Deli Waiter
    Caleb Reynolds
    • Schoolboy
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Stan the Doorman
    Stephen McKinley Henderson
    Stephen McKinley Henderson
    • Walt the Locksmith
    Lorna Pruce
    Lorna Pruce
    • Locksmith Customer
    • (as Lorna Guity Pruce)
    Viola Davis
    Viola Davis
    • Abby Black
    Jeffrey Wright
    Jeffrey Wright
    • William Black
    Hazelle Goodman
    Hazelle Goodman
    • Hazelle Black
    Bernadette Drayton
    • Prayer Group Woman
    David Latham
    • Prayer Group Man
    Marty Krzywonos
    Marty Krzywonos
    • Piano Man
    • Director
      • Stephen Daldry
    • Writers
      • Eric Roth
      • Jonathan Safran Foer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews421

    6.9106.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7Christopher_Reid

    Emotionally affecting but often frustrating

    I found the main character very annoying at times. However, over time, this movie had enough touching moments that felt real and were gagné that in the end it was reasonably enjoyable.

    The best parts were the emotionally intense scenes of which there were several. The subject matter automatically lead in that direction. What was important was that they were handled well and weren't too obvious or sappy or preachy, IMO. I don't normally cry during movies and I didn't, but I can see how someone could and there's something healing in that. There doesn't need to be any explanation for a situation for us to learn from it. Simply seeing other people deeply affected by disturbing things can make you feel less alone and give you faith in humanity.

    People can argue and say nasty words and yet somehow communicate love at the same time through their body language. That brutal honesty that hurts the most usually comes from a very kind, sensitive place. It's interesting the kind of guilt we're capable of putting upon ourselves. The desperate fear that you're not a good person, that you failed somehow. You can relate to these characters and the way they feel. Death is one of those things that can be scary but which we often completely forget about. It's nice to have a primal emotion or fear brought alive by a movie in the right way.

    Now some major weaknesses. The plot is stupidly ridiculous. Much of it is technically possible but doesn't hold up well to inspection. It's too cute and "clever". I hate when characters go out on misguided missions without thinking them through. It's been done. It's far more interesting to have intelligent characters who run into legitimate or unexpected barriers than simply allowing them to forget all logic at the outset. The plot involves arbitrary devices for creating interesting situations rather than letting logical actions by the characters naturally take them somewhere interesting. It's like bad magic where you can see it all a mile away and there are no surprises.

    The boy's obnoxious and rude comportement were extreme and distracting at times. He was unlikable for long stretches. I can understand it in the context of him being deeply affected or lost or trying to cope with things, but it was still too much and the movie implied he was like that anyway because there was no contrast with his comportement before the events. Sounds like the book is much better in this regard. But it did affect me. Brought a little something out of me. Which can be rare considering how predictable I find the majority of new movies.
    8moviexclusive

    One of the best 9/11 dramas you'll see, this poignant and uplifting story is ultimately a reaffirming tale of resilience and reconciliation

    A fair warning before you step into this 9/11 drama based on the acclaimed novel by Johnathan Safran Foer- the protagonist, a nine-year- old boy living in New York City, isn't someone you'll embrace easily, even though the fact that he had lost his father in the Twin Towers should win much sympathy. Indeed, while we may accept a certain degree of immaturity from the kid due to his age, it's appalling to hear him say that his dad- whose body like the thousands who perished was never found- might just be 'dog faeces' in Central Park, or that he wished it was his mother who had lost her life instead.

    Oskar Schell (played by newcomer Thomas Horn) is rather the abrasive kid who is both precocious and socially awkward- though test results on Asperger's syndrome turned out inconclusive. One year after that fateful day, Oskar steps inside his father's closet and finds a key inside an envelope with the name 'Black' scrawled on the front. Thinking that it might be one of his father, Thomas' (Tom Hanks), elaborate puzzles he used to concoct in order to force his son to interact with people, Oskar sets off on a personal quest to track down the source of the key.

    Equipped with a backpack of essentials- including an Israeli gas mask, 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawkings, and a tambourine that he uses to calm himself amid the din and bustle of the city- Oskar traverses by foot through the five boroughs of New York knocking on the doors of everyone with the last name 'Black' he can locate in the phone book. Some of the people he meets include a married couple (Viola Davis and Jeffrey Wright) on the verge of divorce, a religious woman who offers up Oskar's mission to God, and a transsexual with a lifestyle too wild for Oskar's comfort- it takes all sorts to make the world, and if each of these attempts turn out futile, it at least fulfils his father's hope that Oskar will learn to be more sociable.

    Each encounter is also an affirmation of the collective tragedy that was 9/11, as Oskar's story moves those he meets to concern and compassion be they survivors or mourners. The unanimous display of empathy is poignant, reaffirming humanity's ability to unite behind grief and loss. But screenwriter Eric Roth makes this journey as much about the mutual heroism of New Yorkers trying to make sense and come to terms with the senselessness and devastation as it is about an individual family's struggle to recover from the very disaster.

    Just as affecting therefore is the examination of the effect that Thomas' death has on the dynamics of the family- the mother Linda (Sandra Bullock) coping with her husband's passing while trying her best to win the understanding and love of her son; and the grandmother (Zoe Caldwell) thrust into an uneasy position as Oskar's confidant even as he rebuffs his mother. Oskar also forms a connection with a certain mysterious Renter (Max von Sydow) living in his grandmother's apartment, whose willingness to accompany Oskar on his trips belies a painful secret and a deeper personal motivation.

    No stranger to heavy-handed dramas, director Stephen Daldry (his fourth feature after the critically acclaimed 'Billy Elliot', 'The Hours' and 'The Reader') handles the potentially histrionic proceedings with surprising deftness. Especially heartrending is Linda's predicament- a scene where she breaks down from hearing Oskar say the words 'I love you' just outside the main door after he leaves in a huff is particularly touching; while a plot twist late into the movie that shows the extent of a mother's love for her son will leave only the hardest of hearts unmoved. Bullock is uncharacteristically low-key but very effective in the role, her heartbreak keenly felt through her grimaces and tears.

    Daldry also gets an excellent performance from von Sydow- with wordless shrugs and sighs, he effortlessly conveys his character's troubled past, one so traumatising that he has chosen to remain silent and relate to others with a simple 'yes' on one palm and 'no' on the other. And at the heart of it all is Thomas Horn's mesmerising turn, the 'Kids Jeopardy' winner utterly captivating as the bright but socially inept kid trying desperately to cling onto the one thing that he thinks will help him remain connected to his deceased father.

    Appropriately then, the film has been nominated for Best Picture honours- though amongst the nine nominees this year, this is probably the lowest rated overall by critics. Many have criticised Daldry's mawkish sentimentality for undermining the material, but in truth, we thought there was much restraint and nuance in his method. In fact, Daldry deserves praise for preserving both the poignancy and pathos of his source novel, delicately portraying both the effect of 9/11 on a sensitive boy and his family as well as that of the larger community around him. True it takes some time to get to understand Oskar on his level, but the very fact that Daldry has retained the inherent eccentrics of his key character is the surest sign that this is not your typical maudlin 9/11 drama. It is stimulating to say the least, extremely tender and incredibly uplifting.

    • www.moviexclusive.com
    7ryansassy1

    Soulful, sad, and incredibly sweet.

    Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a film that haunts you all day after the closing credits. I just watched it this morning, Sept. 11th, 2012--weeping continually, which is not a typical reaction from me. Powerful stuff.

    The story is about a child who lost his father in the World Trade Center attacks on that fateful day in our country's history. It is his journey to reconnect with his father's memory by going on a quest to find the lock that fits the key left mysteriously in a vase in his father's closet. Along the way, this shy and sensitive boy Oskar is forced to meet and interact with a range of citizens, and to hear their stories too.

    More importantly, it is about connectedness. It is about realizing that you aren't alone in your pain, and learning how to reach out to others for help and comfort. It is about realizing that your alone-ness is an illusion.

    I loved, loved, loved the chemistry of the father and son in the flashback scenes, loved the delightful and unconventional expeditions they embarked upon, and enjoyed coming along with Oskar and The Renter to solve the final mystery of the key. I thought that the child actor playing Oskar was wonderful in this breakout role; he carried the movie quite well, almost singlehandedly-- except for those scenes with Max Von Sydow's silent character, The Renter. Of course Von Sydow stole the show, and totally deserved his Academy nomination. In all, the actors were brilliant and compelling to match the heartfelt script.

    Yes, there was a certain amount of emotional manipulation involved in this tearjerker (what else could you expect from a Sandra Bullock production nowadays?). I can overlook that and wholeheartedly recommend EL&IC to anybody as possibly the best "9/11" film to date.
    8Boba_Fett1138

    One of the biggest surprises of 2011!

    This seems to be really one of those cases of you'll either love this movie or completely, totally hate it. I personally really wasn't expecting much from this movie and knew very little about it as well but I was completely surprised and wowed by it. It's a really warm, heartfelt movie, filled with both adventure and drama.

    Things could had so easily turned cheap and sappy in this movie but it really didn't. Instead the movie at all times felt like a real warm and honest one, with some great storytelling in it and no, I'm normally absolutely not a fan of Stephen Daldry's movies and directing approach. What I absolutely loved about this movie is that it's being told almost entirely from the eyes of a child, who has lost his father and is trying to cope with it by going on, what he thinks, is the one last adventure through the city of New York, that his father had planned for him.

    Really, over the years we have had many adventure movies of course but how many of them successfully combined it with some true heartfelt drama in it as well. On that level this movie is already really an unique and original one, that works on so many different levels.

    It seems that the only reason why some people have some major problems with this movie and are even offended by it is because its drama involves 9/11 and uses its events to emote its audience. And of course while they have a point about this, I didn't feel at all as if it was using it in a cheap or gimmicky way, to easily get emotions from its audience. The only one thing I will complain about was that it kept referencing a bit too much at it at times. Really, one mention of it could had sufficed but the movie instead kept using some flashbacks at times, which were still powerful but it got done 2 or 3 times too many in my opinion. Besides, there were times I even got confused by it and didn't always intermediately noticed that it was a flashback I was watching.

    I was absolutely loving all of the characters in this movie and also really liked it that the movie had the guts to portray a little kid as a little kid for a change and not one with some fake emotions, feelings and thoughts. Everybody was a kid once, some much longer ago than others but I do believe everybody should be able to identify in one way or another with its main character, played by the young Thomas Horn, who made his acting debut with this movie. But the same more or less goes for all of the other characters as well, who got very well written and got played by some well known and great actors. This movie probably features both Tom Hanks' and Sandra Bullock's best performance of the past years and Max von Sydow, who never says a word in this movie, even got nominated for an Oscar for his role in this movie.

    Really, this is one of the best 2011 movies I have seen and it also definitely ranks among my favorite ones as well.

    8/10

    http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
    Gordon-11

    An excellent drama about the path to healing

    This film is about a boy's journey to find the lock which his father's key fits into.

    Set in a backdrop of the post September 11th attacks, the story is bound to be touching. Looking through the confusing times through the eyes of a autistic-spectrum child makes "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" even more powerful. The way he steps out of his comfort zone, his bravery and persistence to find the answer is inspiring. It keeps me glued to the screen, hoping a Hollywood ending will occur. Of course, we get catharsis after catharsis of painful emotions. These portrayals are incredibly real, and incredibly touching.

    "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" is an excellent drama that deals with painful wounds, and its journey to healing.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sandra Bullock (Linda Schell) was in New York City with her family, and witnessed the second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, crashing into the World Trade Center's South Tower on September 11, 2001.
    • Goofs
      Oskar says that only humans cry tears and that a photo of an elephant crying must be Photoshopped, but elephants actually do cry tears.
    • Quotes

      Thomas Schell: If things were easy to find, they wouldn't be worth finding.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.59 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      If You Know The Lord Is Keeping You
      Written by Charles Taylor

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    FAQ19

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    • What's the significance of the images of a man falling at the beginning of the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tan fuerte y tan cerca
    • Filming locations
      • Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Scott Rudin Productions
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,847,881
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $72,348
      • Dec 25, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $55,247,881
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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