Preview: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

Synopsis:

A young boy attempts to uncover the secret hidden with the small key he finds in his father's closet after his death on September 11.

• Poster: C-

Review:

When you get an image this large, it becomes really obvious that it's been touched up by Photoshop. It's so bad that it almost looks like the CGI-ed the boy onto the poster. There's not much compelling here as the eyes look lifeless and the look of shock on the boy's face just comes off feeling phony.

• Trailer: B+; B+

Review:

Unlike the poster, the trailer does a masterful job conveying a sense of tragedy, loss, suffering, passion and hope. In a film about September 11, focusing outside of the event on one family and their struggle to understand a lost loved one's past makes for an interesting film.

This looks like an absolute tear jerker and that's what it's likely to be. Still, the idea is filled with a lot of potential and having seen and liked two of Daldry's three films, I am pretty sure I'll probably find something to like here.

Oscar Prospects:

This is a film to watch. The Academy loves Stephen Daldry. His three prior films (Billy Elliot, The Hours and The Reader) each picked Daldry up an Oscar nomination for directing. All three films were also nominated for screenwriting and at least one acting nomination. His last two films also picked up Best Picture nods and Oscars for lead actress. Who knows if Sandra Bullock will be campaigned lead or support, but a nomination for Bullock based on these factors seems likely along with Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Other nominations are definitely possible including late-career recognition for Max von Sydow who seems to be earning the most buzz of any performance from the film.

Release Date:

• December 25, 2011

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (October 2, 2011) Original

-Wesley Lovell (December 11, 2011) New Trailer