If you go to the cinema looking for pulse-pounding action and over-the-top antics, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" can be crossed off your "to watch" list. However, if you are entranced by emotions, adventure, and character development, this film will likely suck you in and not let go until the credits roll.For a basic plot summary, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" begins by showing the extraordinary loving relationship between Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) and his father Thomas (Tom Hanks). When Thomas is killed during the 9/11 attacks in New York City, little Oskar is devastated. In trying to re-connect with the presence of his father, Oskar finds a strange key in his father's closet and sets out on a quest to find out its meaning. Along the way, Oskar meets up with an older gentleman (played by Max von Sydow) who helps him along.The remarkable aspect of this film is how it sets up such an emotional bond between father and son in a matter of minutes. When Thomas is killed, you will feel a crushing sense of loss and as such root even harder for young Oskar to see through his epic quest. Even when the primary narrative may wane from time to time, the young boy's incredible love for his father will be what keeps you on the edge of your seat.The characters are also very well-acted in this movie. Horn carries the film in practically every scene, while Hanks is well, Hanks for the short time he is on screen. Sydow picks up a key role roughly half way through the movie, while Sandra Bullock ("Mom" Schell) plays the grieving widower with great passion.This is a very down-to-earth film, as well. Nothing is over-the-top or overly dramatic. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that the ending of the film may not initially gratify you, but once pondered upon will reveal itself as the right kind of conclusion for such a real-world effort.Overall, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" is likely to, at the very least, find you rooting on young Oskar Schell as step by step he gets closer to re-discovering his father. The experience will make you both think and feel long after the lights come up.

Extremely loud and incredibly close is such a gem, I am sad that it took me this long to see it. The cast is excellent, especially Thomas Horn, the main character. The story starts out in a bit of confusion, and you are not quite sure what to expect. Then, slowly over the span of the film, little connections begin to pop up as you begin to make sense of it all. I loved every moment of the film. There are ups, and downs, and everything in between, and even if you have never experienced exactly what Oskar experiences, you feel connected to his character, and you feel just as motivated to resolve his quest as he is. This film is well directed, and the style is amazing. I never felt like I knew what would happen next, and that made me happy. It is a great family film, and there is a very nice message attached to it.

This is a brilliant movie and I am personally shocked that the rating is not higher. It makes you smile and cry (I have never cried more in a movie). Movies like this really broaden your perspective. The young actor in this movie is very talented along with the rest of the cast. This helped really feel for the characters especially the little boy, who also is battling autism. I love the bond of the Renter and Oscar. They did a good job at showing that everyone has personal battles. Some scenes were so overwhelmingly powerful and well written that it is no wonder I cried for 2 hours straight during this movie. I would really don't why some people thought it was not entertaining. It isn't some action movie, but you really feel something you can't with other movies. Especially with everything happening today, this movie will inspire you to help make the world a better place.

I think the key to a proper reception of the film is noticing, that it is not only about 9/11, and maybe mostly not about it. Instead of 9/11 any disaster that took life of boy's father could be pictured here. It would be only a background. The film is about something else (hard to choose one word to describe it, but most appropriate for me would be "the search"). Many negative reviews about the movie seem to be a result of that narrow way of seeing it. Also, boy's precise talk is not artificial - it might be a symptom of some form of Asperger syndrome, linked with his other behaviors.The film is moving and cleansing. Also, it is exciting - the search going further and further makes the outcome much desired. Worth watching.