My friend Abhaya is an avid movie watcher and apart from going to the theaters to watch them he also uses modern technology to download Satellite TV film shows to see at his convenience. Whenever he comes across something really nice, he immediately sends an alert for me to try and see the same movie. On 9/11 I got a message from him asking me to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close a film using the 9/11 incidents to show a young boy’s journey to find some connection to his father who dies in the WTC collapse.
On receipt of the message, I had sent for a DVD of the same movie and it came this morning and I watched it earlier this evening. One of the reasons that I prefer seeing movies at home is that I can put the player on pause and do some other things and return to the player at my convenience, but this was one film that did not allow me to indulge in such a relaxed viewing. It held my attention from the word go and till the end, a 130 minute experience, I was glued to my seat. I had even switched off my phone so that I would not be disturbed and I am glad that I did.
To be honest, what convinced me to send for the DVD was Abhaya’s message that said that the film starred Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. The movie has more or less cameo roles for both though when they do appear they deliver powerful performances. Max von Sydow another bonus actor actually has the most powerful role to play apart from the hero of the film young Thomas Horn. Full marks to the director Stephen Daldry for having got a truly magnificent performance out of the young lad and very memorable performances from the other supporting cast.
I don’t remember to have heard about this film when it was released four years ago. I wonder whether it was released at all in India. It is a powerful movie on relationships and nostalgia particularly for an eleven year old young boy. As I write this, I am still under the influence of the performance of Horn. I am sure that he will grow up to be a very successful actor. I have no hesitation whatsoever in giving the movie the full [rating=6] rating.
If you have not seen it, please do. You will not regret it.
Strange coincidence that you should mention nine eleven just as I was thinking about it (conspiracy theories being brought to my attention big time. To say that I am confused is an understatement).
Strange thing about that day was that I did what I never ever did or do during the day: Turn on the TV. That day I did [turn on the TV] – no idea why. Was about twenty minutes before I had to leave the house to pick up the Angel from school. Plonked myself on the sofa and, naturally, me being me, read the papers. Interrupted by agitated voice on the news I looked up – to see the first tower being hit, thought to myself “accident” (callous as I am), returned to reading my paper when the second hit. By the third I was in the car [to pick up the Angel] and got the news on the radio. You know when people ask you where you were when JFK was assassinated? A bit like that.
Thanks for the recommendation.
U
Ursula recently posted..Three in the morning
It was evening here when I saw the story on TV at a friend’s place and I will never forget that evening.
You will enjoy the movie if you ever get around to seeing it.
thanks for the recommendation, i havent even heard of the film.
I will add it to my lengthening list!
kylie recently posted..A midden of Tissues
You will not be disappointed.
I remember the trailer when it was released. After reading this I rented it on Amazon and spent my best 2 hours of the last 6 months. Things have been totally fubar and I needed this. Thanks for the recommendation.
shackman recently posted..Simplicity – LBC post
I am glad that some thing useful and good came out of the review Shackman. All the best.
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve added it to my Netflix list.
Cheerful Monk recently posted..I’m Hopeless
You will enjoy the experience.