No I’m not talking about the 5:07pm express train from Flinders Street Station but the latest heart-rending father/son flick to hit cinemas.
Tom Hanks plays Thomas, father to Oskar – brilliantly portrayed by 13 year old Thomas Horn. They share a special relationship where reconnaissance missions through Central Park and fostering intellect are the norm until September 11 changes their lives forever.
Horn’s Oskar has been described as irritating, obnoxious and arrogant by various movie reviewers but the movie does touch lightly on behavioral issues. It’s a conversation often missing from mainstream movies and goes some way into explaining some of Oskar’s quirks.
Sandra Bullock shines in the latter half of the movie as Oskar’s somewhat detached mother and Max Von Sydow adds depth as “the renter” – a man boarding with Oskar’s grandmother who cannot speak.
Whilst the script often feels manipulative I still found myself crying no less than four times and you know what? It felt good. I love a good tear-jerker and for that reason Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close gets 4 stars. Take tissues, particularly if you’re the sleep deprived mother to a quirky child.
*This is not a sponsored post
