Extremely Loud: Reliving lessons from Sept. 11

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 12 January 2012 14:03

Each week, the Reel Dad checks the nutritional value of a movie — new or classic — to help parents choose what to watch. This week’s pick is a new film from director Stephen Daldry, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

The tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, when too many lives ended and others were forever changed, lives on for anyone touched by the tragedy. Ten years later, the horrors of that morning remain impossible to imagine. How can we, as a people, ever fully understand why this happened?

As the nation marked the 10th anniversary of that day last September, as we listened again to the names of victims read aloud at Ground Zero, we could see signs of people moving on. Children who were young on that bright fall day 10 years ago are now older; some have marked the decade with accomplishments; others, so personally touched and changed, demonstrated they found ways to continue.

The adaptation of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, takes us back to the horrors of Sept. 11. Unlike United 93, which recreated what happened aboard the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, Extremely Loud is not about the event itself. Instead the film uses Sept. 11 as a catalyst for one boy’s personal journey. While the details of the day frame the action, the film ultimately focuses on how this boy tries to resolve questions about why bad things happen.

As the movie opens, the son and the father he loves share all types of adventures to encourage this nine-year-old to be curious and courageous. When the father dies in the World Trade Center, the boy struggles to grieve; later, when he discovers a key his father left behind, he searches for clues that dad may have left about life. As the boy takes the mysterious key across New York City, he tries to discover how to move on without this essential person in his life.

When focused on family grief, and the boy’s curiosity about the lessons his father tried to impart, the film works well. The chilling detail of how the boy and his mother react to Sept. 11 takes us back to our own initial reactions to the tragedy. But the film loses steam, and focus, when it shifts to the details of the boy’s search for answers. Coincidence begins to cloud the narrative as screenwriter Eric Roth, who wrote Forrest Gump, tries too hard to bring the film to a tidy resolution. Life, especially after a day as significant as Sept. 11, isn’t that simple. While the movie delivers so much in its early moments, Extremely Loud ultimately descends into a predictable plotline that veers too far from where it begins.

Despite the disappointments of its screenplay, Extremely Loud is visually creative and well performed. Director Stephen Daldry establishes a fabulous sense of style and pace and inspires excellent performances. Tom Hanks has not felt this authentic in a long time, even though his role as the father is small, and Sandra Bullock is moving as the mother, even though her character changes off-screen. Thomas Horn is moving as the young boy and Viola Davis is memorable any time she is on a screen.

But these ingredients don’t add up to what the movie could have been. Perhaps no film can fully capture how Sept. 11 changed our world. Extremely Loud begins with promise but lets its tidy narrative dilute its impact. Hopefully, someday, a moviemaker as creative as Daldry will share a universal story of this most important day.

Film Nutritional Value

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

* Content: High. While Extremely Loud wraps things up in too tidy a manner, it conveys a great deal of meaning and prompts many lasting memories.

* Entertainment: High. Even though the subject matter is somber, the strong performances and visual style contribute to an entertaining experience.

* Message: Medium. When the film focuses on Sept. 11, the message is strong; when it veers from this narrative its impact diminishes.

* Relevance: High. Any opportunity to return to that day and remember its meaning is important.

* Opportunity for Dialogue: High. After you share this film, talk with your children about how the world changed on Sept. 11, and what changes we continue to feel.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close runs 129 minutes and is rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language. 

4 Popcorn Buckets