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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Review

Movies.com Critics

2.5

Dave White Profile

Christmas mourning. Read full review

1.5

Grae Drake Profile

It takes a village...to shut this kid up. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 3.0
    46

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Mixed or average reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 10

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    The production's penchant for contrivance is insufferable - not a single spontaneous moment from start to finish - and the boy is so precocious you want to strangle him. It's surely not the fault of Thomas Horn, the remarkable young man who plays him.

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    The New York Times Manohla Dargis

    Yes, you may cry, but when tears are milked as they are here, the truer response should be rage.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    Village Voice Nick Pinkerton

    Such an abundance of "epiphanies," one after another, amount to a tactical assault on viewer sentiments. The deluge of tears is Daldry's idea of pathos, but to these eyes, it's Oscar-trolling 9/11 kitsch.

    Read Full Review

  • 60

    out of 100

    Variety

    With its re-enactments of that fateful day, Extremely Loud plays a bit too much like one of those perfectly lit, heart-tugging segments TV networks air during the Olympics. It hardly matters that Horn manages to give such a naturalistic, unmannered performance as the young Oskar when everything around him has been so deliberately orchestrated to provoke a specific reaction.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    No movie has ever been able to provide a catharsis for the Holocaust, and I suspect none will ever be able to provide one for 9/11. Such subjects overwhelm art.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    In Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, director Stephen Daldry must walk a tricky line between poignancy and pathos. He occasionally slips into maudlin turf.

    Read Full Review

  • 67

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    A polarizing load of quirkiness in Extremely Loud gunks up (at least for this hometown mourner; your results may vary) what is at heart a piercing story.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Betsy Sharkey

    Director Stephen Daldry has taken great care in looking at it through the eyes of a precocious New York City boy in a film filled with both sentiment and substance.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Todd McCarthy

    Best of all, von Sydow is absolutely wonderful, with the great veteran actor clearly relishing this very unusual role as he darts, skulks and, in a stealthy way, mugs across town. Without saying a thing, he dominates the middle part of the movie.

    Read Full Review

  • 88

    out of 100

    ReelViews James Berardinelli

    Director Stephen Daldry has fashioned an emotionally powerful cinematic testimony about that horrific late summer day.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 14+

Drama about child's 9/11 loss stirs up sadness.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer about an 11-year-old with Asperger's syndrome (or something very similar to it) who loses his father in the Sept. 11 attacks -- and how he copes with the loss a year later. Some scenes include graphic 9/11 imagery and news clips and may be too intense for young children. (If you watch with your teens, it's a good idea to have a conversation about 9/11 beforehand.) There's also some swearing (including "f--k") and drinking. Although the film centers around loss and tragedy, many adult characters are strong role models, and there's a message about learning to accept the answers that life gives you.

  • Families can talk about the movie's subject matter. Teens: What do you know about 9/11? How do you think the events of that day affected the children who lost their parents and/or other relatives?
  • How does the media usually portray/deal with 9/11-related stories? How does this movie compare to other depictions you've seen?
  • Why is Oskar so bent on finding the object that the key unlocks? What does it mean for him?

The good stuff
  • message true2

    Messages: The film's most basic message is this: Life might not make a lot of sense, but does it have to? We may never get the answers to our questions that we expect, but the answers do come, and they can be instructive, even wise.

  • rolemodels true4

    Role models: For a film about deep tragedy and chaos, the movie has wonderful role models: Oskar's father is creative and whimsical and cares for him very much; his mother allows him to be himself, proudly; his grandmother is supportive and non-judgmental. Even an old man who becomes part of their family in a strange way proves to be empathetic. Oskar comes across as insensitive, but it's hinted that he has Asperger's syndrome, which sometimes makes it difficult for him to recognize and respond to emotions.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: The movie's story centers on 9/11, and the graphic images from that day are shown: the twin towers with billowing smoke, people falling from the buildings, relatives receiving panic-stricken and heartfelt phone calls from trapped loved ones. Also, in a fit of anger, a child starts thrashing around and hitting anything in his way. He also yells at adults and sometimes comes across as insolent and disrespectful, when really he's hurting and is unable to process his emotions.

  • sex false0

    Sex: Not an issue

  • language false3

    Language: Infrequent use of "dipsh--t," "d--k," and "a--hole," sometimes by a child. Also "oh God" as an exclamation, plus words that sound like "s--t" and "f--k" but aren't.

  • consumerism false3

    Consumerism: Labels seen/mentioned include Dymo, Wild Turkey, Juicy Juice, Nokia, AT&T, Barney Greengrass, Fig Newtons, and Fairway.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some adult characters drink liquor in moments of stress.

Fan Reviews provided by

5

Extraordinary film by calcutta
Saw this film at one of the NYC theaters exhibiting the feature . Recalling what happened here on 9/11 is still as vivid as that which is acurately portrayed in this exceptional picture. Not only is the movie the first to succeed out of many centering on 9/11, ELIC an an excellent movie with a totally justified long running time. It is quirky, indirect yet highly specific and starts like a hurtling subway train, never slows, and kept one well-schooled in story arcs somewhat guessing even to the end. This a most unusual and worthy movie about a painful topic. The critics, some of whom have found fault with it are, in my opinion, very much off the mark and may have missed the point. See it if you care about the human condition, how we react to extreme trauma, and get a first glimpse at 9/11 in its true historical context in the bargain. Acting, directing, shooting and most of all writing, are first rate. So compelling was this film that special security was employed in NYC at screenings

5

terrific movie by cleva
yes, it was extremely emotional throughout the ENTIRE movie. i laughed several times, cried more often that i wanted to, but i left in awe of how well written and remarkable the moments were. i recently lost my father, so i will say, i do NOT recommend this movie if you have lost a loved one recently or have strong emotional ties with 911....it will be very hard to cope with parts of the movie. but overall, i have no negative criticisms.

5

The Unstoppable Spirit of Human Love by thomasdosborneii
I can't say enough good things about this masterwork of a movie. I saw it on Christmas Day, and it was so good I had to go see it again the next day, and after that, I didn't want to see any more movies for a while, because I didn't want to confuse, dilute, or mix up my deep, loving emotions. The movie was totally a love story--love to parents, to children, to New York and New Yorkers, to heroes, to Americans, and to the human spirit. I can't think of this movie without feeling this deep love. Thomas Horn was outstandingly good (an OSCAR for OSKAR!) and had an amazing ability to move between being a beautific angel to someone nearly needing an exorcism. But everybody was good and successfully generated intense emotions even with small amounts of screen time. I thought Sandra Bullock did an especially good job with the difficult task assigned to her--to show fear, grief, isolation, a mother's love, and supportive enabling wisdom, all at the same time, which she did successfully.

5

Gripping look at 9/11 by ellisiland
This is an unpredictable, non-traditional look at the emotion surrounding 9/11. I would definitely recommend that viewers see this film. This movie really gripped my heart.

5

Loved It! A must see by Randig
My husband and I saw the movie Friday night in NYC. We really loved the movie, and were both moved by Thomas Horn's performance as well as the subject matter. A different take on 9/11 as seen through a young adults eyes. At the end of the movie, many in the audience stood and clapped, as others were very busy wiping away tears. The woman next to my husband cried throughout the entire movie. Bring tissues, and be prepared to cry, but it is a feel good movie!

2

Wasn't for me by TwirlyBird
Movie reviews are totally subjective when they're coming from lay people, and I am just one person. With that being said...this one just wasn't for me. I found the kid to be incredibly annoying up until the last 15 or so minutes. Given that he wasn't definitively diagnosed with Aspergers, I just found his character to be too much.

4

Powerful movie about father/son and 9/11 by Slinkyies
I went in to this movie with pretty low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. The little kid and the grandfather make the movie. Folks who enjoy deep, emotional movies will really enjoy this.

4

it was good by rfsalazar515
Not often do you see a movie and say OH MY GOD, THIS IS AMAZING. this is not one of those times either. It was good, I would recommend it, but it's not a must see.

4

Intense by smlaz
Movie is not one that will have you doing cartwheels. Realistic, brings back many bad thoughts of the "worst day". Film may seem long at points but it is a complete story. I can see why it is critically acclaimed. God Bless America.

5

An amazing movie you must not miss,,, by erdoclindsey
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is one of those movies you just must not miss. My husband, 13 year old daughter & I went to see it on Christmas day. (emy daughter & I had seen it at a screening before but had been waiting to see it again: It was that good). I hadn't lost anyone in 9/11, but, as an ER doctor, I was still filled with the sadness many of us had who were waiting to treat the casualties that just never arrived. Like so many good movies, it made me laugh, cry, and experience an array of emotions with the characters. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close takes you through the struggle with a young boy (and his devoted family) as he tries to make sense out of the loss of his father " on the very worst day". I loved this movie & found some peace through it; finally able to put my unsettled feelings to rest. This story about the "worst day" is a marvelously acted, must see movie I now can't wait to add to my collection. Don't miss this amazing film!!!

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