Movie Review: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Background:

Director: Stephen Daldry

Cast: Thomas Horn (Oskar Schell), Tom Hanks (Thomas Schell), Sandra Bullock (Linda Schell), Max von Sydow (The Renter)

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Mystery

I had wanted to watch this movie on Netflix after I had DNF'd the book because I wanted to know the story but I just couldn't get through the writing style in the book. I did enjoy the movie very much though, and I think I might have changed my mind about the book. I have come up with a compromise for myself - I will try to find the audio book of this. I have already tried 2 times to read the book and I just can't do it, the writing jumps around a lot (and I know now it's because that's how Oskar is) and it tends to actually make me anxious while reading it because his thoughts are jumbled. But I want to read the book so I'm going to try to find the audiobook at my library or on Overdrive. And I obviously can't give an accurate statement with regards with the movie and the accuracy to the book.

Plot and Thoughts:

Even though I haven't personally lost a close member of my family, this still hit me in the heart. The scenes where Oskar listens to the recordings made me cry my eyes out it was so heartbreaking. And his mom's confusion of his dad's death was something I think a lot of people could relate to because sometimes there are things that we can't explain and that makes it a hell of a lot harder to deal with.

I liked Oskar's adventure throughout the story and I loved how the people he met had impacted him and he had impacted them in so many ways.

I also liked the bond between the Renter and Oskar because they both seemed to understand each other in this subtle way. I just don't understand some things about the Renter but I think it's suppose to be up for interpretation.

I also want to know what happened with the key because we never actually find out what it is. And I don't understand why the Black's got back together.

There are still a lot of mysteries unsolved at the end which kind of bothers me. I'm honestly kind of triggered because this is what Lemony Snicket did to me for 13 books and I still don't have answers.

I loved Oskar and I loved the relationships that he had with the people around him. The acting was amazing and I know I will forever remember this story because it has forever impacted me.

I give this movie a 8/10 stars.

★★★★★★★★☆☆