Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close — PG-13

By David Adams

The Story

“You never know what a key is going to fit,” says Walt the locksmith (Stephen Henderson). “It could be anything.” Young Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) has a mysterious key, left by his father Thomas (Tom Hanks), who died on Sept. 11 in the attack on New York's twin towers. The key's a clue, Oskar believes, in another of his and his father's quixotic “expeditions,” like their search for traces of the city's lost sixth borough, sunk into the sea after being dragged from Central Park 100 years or more ago. Oskar knows that an expedition always means a journey, and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is Oskar's quest through NYC's five boroughs, searching for the owner of the key and the lock it will open. He believes that only if he finds the lock will Sept. 11 and his father's death make any sense. “Nonstop looking” is the message his father left.

See this heartfelt film to discover what Oskar learns and how his journey ends.

The actors

As precocious and, sometimes, annoying Oskar Schell, young Thomas Horn carries the film and, despite no previous acting experience, gives a compelling and convincing performance. Oskar has limited social skills and engages in repetitive, not to say compulsive, behavior, but we like him, quirks, eccentricities and all. In his narration, Oskar suggests he's been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Zoe Caldwell and Max von Sydow play Oskar's tender grandmother and her elderly, mute renter. Their relationships with Oskar are the deepest and most affective in the film — thanks, especially, to von Sydow's expressive face. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are parents, Thomas and Linda Schell. We see Hanks in flashbacks. Bullock's role is small but important.

Others in the cast include John Goodman as avuncular Stan the doorman and Stephen Henderson as wise Walt the locksmith. Viola Davis and Jeffrey Wright are excellent as Abby and William Black.

Other comments

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is a quest tale in which the hero, 13-year old (or so) Oskar Schell, searches for meaning in 9-11 and his father's death. In quest stories, help comes from unexpected sources and, always, the journey is more important than its object — in this case, a lock — so what Oskar learns from his journey is the point of the film. Stephen Daldry directs Eric Roth's script, from Jonathan Safran Foer's novel. Evocative music by Alexandre Desplat. Cinematography by Chris Menges.

Rated PG-13 for emotional themes, disturbing images and language, the film runs 129 minutes. An artful and touching tale for adults and older children. Talk about the movie afterwards. What does Oskar learn?

Final words

Questing for meaning,

“Extremely Loud and

Incredibly Close” may

Help us grieve and mend.