Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Review

Ok, so let's admit it. The very title of the film is such a mumbo-jumbo that you have to read it twice, no make it thrice, to actually gather context and realise what it indeed stands for. Moreover, despite Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock towering in the cast, it isn't exactly 'their' film. It is about the boy who plays their son, Thomas Horn, even as Hanks and Bullock take a backseat. Moreover with 9/11 being revisited all over again, it isn't quite an enticing film to be given a dekko, especially when the wounds are being opened all over again in the name of this being an 'inspirational' affair.

Hanks and his son are quite close to each other and indulge in the game of search via clues. This means that after Hanks is killed in the 9/11 attack, son Thomas continues his game of hunt, this time with a key. In this endeavour of this, the kid meets quite a few strangers. Expectantly though, while some warm up to him, the rest aren't quite interested in building a conversation. How Thomas ends up befriending an old man (Max von Sydow) and reaches the end of the game forms the crux of 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close'.

While it is clear from the title as well as the core storyline of the film that it isn't going to be one of those quintessential commercial affairs, 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' doesn't turn out to be thoroughly engaging either. Direction of Stephen Daldry, who has earlier made films like 'The Reader' and 'Billy Elliot', is such that it would appeal mainly to niche audience which wants it's drama to be real. Nothing wrong with films that are treated with a real touch to them but when the chosen subject happens to be something as sensitive as this which is connected to 9/11, it turns out to be an uncomfortable watch.

Of course there are decent redeeming factors involved as well. To top it all is the boy Thomas Horn who picks up the mantle to being a central protagonist here and doesn't disappoint. Natural to the core and keeping a fine balance by acting his age, Thomas does well in making his presence felt. However it isn't an act that gets termed as 'heart warming', 'endearing' or 'fantabulous enough to bring tears to your eyes'. Here it is good and suits the narrative of the film but that's about it.

Another factor that makes one wonder about the bigger relevance of the film is it's limited appeal when it comes to the sheer plotline. With the film centred basically on a key and the clues attached to it, the audience base ends up being quite shrunk since not many can be expected to get enthused with such a setting. Nothing wrong with a plot which isn't quintessentially Hollywood in terms of being larger than life. However for smaller settings too to have a widespread global appeal, there has to be a subject that many can be expected to latch on it. It is obvious that 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close' isn't one such film.

Watch it only if you want to take a conscious call of watching an occasional 'different' film that offers something other than regular entertainment.

Rating: **1/2