Stephen Daldry bravely approaches the still-sensitive topic of 9/11 in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” The story follows 11-year-old Oskar Schell as he tries to make sense of what he calls “the worst day.” The precocious, young actor (Thomas Horn) gives perhaps the brightest performance in the film despite his powerhouse costars, Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks.
Daldry’s film falls flat at several points, such as trying to make NYC seem miniscule and easily accessible for a child. Even more so, the film’s raw depictions of the attacks seem almost too morbid to be cathartic. “Extremely Loud” may be among the first films to deal so centrally with 9/11, but we may not be ready to deal with it just yet.
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3.5/5 Stars Directed by: Stephen Daldry Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn, Viola Davis Rated PG-13. 129 minutes
