Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Sad Professor

This opened today. I could have swore there was an existing thread about it, but I can’t find it.

Anyway, the critics have taken a major disliking to it, but I thought it was really good. It has some excellent editing and directing and solid performances all round, especially from von Sydow. The young actor in the lead role is extremely good as well, but the character will probably be very divisive among audiences as he isn’t your usual cute little kid. It’s revealed in the film that he has been tested for Aspergers, though the results were inconclusive (thankfully the film doesn’t go any further with this). Some will find him grating, but I thought the character was bravely performed and directed.

Undoubtedly many will accuse the film of being overwrought, manipulative and contrived, but I think those criticisms are missing the point. This isn’t intended to be a realistic drama about one family’s experiences of 9/11, but rather an urban fairly tale that builds on the mythology of that tragic event to tell what is basically an optimistic story of grief and overcoming your fears. The whimsical quest at the core of the film’s plot borders on the fantastical and in that sense the film probably belongs in the same category as some of Eric Roth’s previous films, like Forrest Gump and Benjamin Button, which obviously weren’t to everyone’s taste. But Daldry’s distinctive direction lends the film an arthouse sensibility that prevents it from being a conventional Hollywood tearjerker.

Despite this, the film is unquestionably Oscar-bait and really has no business being nominated for Best Picture, not when there was far superior films like Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Martha Marcy May Marlene and Take Shelter released last year. However, I still think this was a good film and that much of the negative reaction to it in the US is due to the silly perception that the film is disrespecting 9/11.

johnny_ultimate

I read the book some years ago, and TBH I barely remember a thing about it! Could say the same thing about most Stephen Daldry films - maybe moderately interesting at the time, but ultimately nothing remarkable.

Unfair to make up my mind about a film before I even see it, but the two reasons above and the film festival soon to suck up all my cinema time for the next ten days, this is far from the top of the list!

WatchWolf

Sad Professor wrote: »

However, I still think this was a good film and that much of the negative reaction to it in the US is due to the silly perception that the film is disrespecting 9/11.

I haven't seen it, but isn't it sort of disrespecting 9/11? Did it add to the story at all? Could they have not just killed the Dad in a car crash or something?

johnny_ultimate

WatchWolf wrote: »

I haven't seen it, but isn't it sort of disrespecting 9/11? Did it add to the story at all? Could they have not just killed the Dad in a car crash or something?

In fairness, from the little I recall the story does at least try to engage with New York in the aftermath of 9/11. I think the main problem is that Americans are crazy sensitive to these sort of things: anything short of blatant flag-waving is basically considered 'insensitive'. And frankly if you can't approach the subject a decade-on, its pretty telling of the country's inability to move on. It's going to be interesting to compare it with the large amount of post-tsunami films coming out of Japan at the moment - there were tonnes in Berlin. I haven't gotten to see any of them yet (and can't wait to see Himizu) but by all accounts they seem to take a much more 'removed' perspective compared to post-9/11 art.

That said, film-makers have been guilty of utilising 9/11 as a cheap and cynical emotional punctuation mark - Remember Me springs to mind.

Mickeroo

I read the book years ago because I really enjoyed everything is illuminated. I enjoyed the book so i'm willing to give this a chance, might wait for dvd though.

tony1kenobi

I fell asleep watching this and afterwards the missus confessed that she was rather jealous because,as she saw it, I got more out of that film than she did.

Victor

The film is a parable. The September 11 references are merely a tool to tell a story.

Metaphor

Character Actor Notes

Us, looking for salvation

The boy, Oskar Schell Thomas Horn

Lost and are trying to find the truth

Jesus

The father, Thomas Schell Tom Hanks

Told interesting little stories, taken too early. Knew he was going to die, but kept going for the sake of the boy

The Holy Spirit

The mother, Linda Schell Sandra Bullock

We thought we were alone, but she was there all along

Mary

The Grandmother Zoe Caldwell

The virgin mother

God

The renter Max von Sydow

He doesn't talk to anyone directly, he seems to be missing at times

e_e

I won't be going to see this, they played a clip on the radio and even that angered me.

Sad Professor

Angered you? Why?

WatchWolf

I saw it today. It was alright. Max Von Sydow was the best part (hardly Oscar worthy though).

whiteonblu

I watched it last night and saw a lot of negative criticism about the autism angle. I thought it was very good. Thought the boy who played Oskar was very good. I think the people who did not like him missed the point that asperger kids can be very intelligent and know a lot about things. It is people and emotions they cannot really connect or have empathy with.