Lost and found in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

In a story in which tragedy and immense loss are the catalysts, the film shows how the right connection can be made through disorder and how this catharsis can transform the world and unite strangers.

Paranoia spirals into chaos

The journey of self-discovery and the path to redemption is powerfully explored through the eyes of 13-year-old Oskar who has an authentically uncommon intelligence and whose high sensory sensitivity and impaired social skills, together with his compulsion for schedules, rules and facts take him far from the predictable and the comfortable when he suffers a terrible loss and his paranoia spirals into chaos.

Thomas Horn, who makes his debut in the role, perfectly captures the frustration, sadness, and desperation of a young boy who needs to find himself through a journey set in motion by his father. Tom Hanks delivers another memorable performance as Oskar's father with Sandra Bullock delivering a subdued and soft delivery of an understanding and supportive mother who never allows her own feelings to destroy the ideals of her son. In the aftermath of The Worst Day, one of Oskar's few sources of comfort is his paternal grandmother, with veteran stage actress and four-time Tony Award-winner Zoe Caldwell giving an unforgettable performance, well supported by venerated actor Max von Sydow as the mysterious old man who can communicate only via scrawls on a notepad, yet becomes Oskar's only confidante on his quest; and Viola Davis (The Help) as a woman going through marital discord, who finds unexpected solace in her strange initial encounter with Oskar.

Tender and compassionate direction

Daldry's extensive experience in theatre, as well as his impeccable direction of the films Billy Elliot and The Hours, is well reflected in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close; his direction is tender and compassionate, sensitively using the landscape of the story and the events, and the introspective mindscape of his characters to bring the powerful story fully to life through strong visuals. It is superbly underscored by composer Alexandre Desplat (The King's Speech), whose haunting music score evokes a melancholic happiness.

The film poignantly shows that sometimes it is better to be lost, for it propels an extraordinary quest with astounding consequences.

If you enjoyed films like Hugo, Billy Elliot, Everything Is Illuminated and The Reader, and want to escape into a story that leaves plenty food for thought, make sure to see this with friends and loved ones.

Rating 5/5