Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

It is so, so clever. I didn't realise until I went to see the film that it's an adaption of the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, which I must now read. Tom Hanks plays the role of a Jeweller, who is a Father of an eleven year-old boy (name Oskar played by Thomas Horn) who sets varying challenges to help his son to embrace life and extend his ability to problem solve besides nurturing him to confront his wildest fears. In doing so, there is a true bond and mutual respect between Father & son. The son seems to be ahead of his years. Thomas Horn will go far! Then the most horrific and unthinkable happens... the boys Father dies in the World Trade Centre! After the boys "worst day", he discovers a key amongst his Father’s belongings. Once discovered, the boy can not help himself but to search across the city for the lock it will open. Along the way he meets quite an assortment of people. He produces an amazing record of those he meets and a system for tracking down where or whom the key belongs.

His Mother (played by Sandra Bullock) is in the background intially, but you can see there is true chemistry between husband and wife. Her intuition shines through... There is "The Renter" played by Max Von Sydow who you may recognise as being in many previous films such as: "Three Days of the Condor", "The Exorcist" and "Shutter Island". Another brilliant role for him. Having experienced grief first-hand, the acting is very realistic and how the story is hinged is absolutely ingenuis. A film I will buy on dvd. FANTASTIC...... Go and see it for yourself. I found it captivating and I feel it will also be for those going to the cinema in the right frame of mind, who also demonstrate a depth of character. I score this movie 9 (10 is top)