'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' Trailer
Is this the Best Picture front-runner I've predicted it to be?
Photo: Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. has lifted the lid off their final major Oscar contender of the year with the first trailer for Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, a 9/11-themed drama based on the novel by novel by Jonathan Safran Foer and adapted for the screen by Eric Roth (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
The story centers on Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), a nine-year-old amateur inventor, jewelry designer, astrophysicist, tambourine player and pacifist, as he searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father (Tom Hanks) when he was killed in the September 11 attacks. Along with Horn and Hanks, the film co-stars Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright and Max von Sydow and after a test screening in New York over the weekend it is already getting very good buzz, but I'll have more on that soon enough.
I have this at the top of my Best Picture predictions and I'm interested to hear if you think I'm on course or if I am over-estimating its value. Give the trailer a watch directly below and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments. The film hits theaters on December 25.
Oh, and if you'd like a little bit of trivia to stump some people with, Thomas Horn was on Teen Jeopardy where he won $31,000 in 2009. Not pertinent to the movie, but still interesting don'tcha think?
Based on the acclaimed novel of the same name, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close tells the story of one young boy's journey from heartbreaking loss to the healing power of self-discovery, set against the backdrop of the tragicevents of September 11. Eleven-year-old Oskar Schell is an exceptional child: amateur inventor, Francophile, pacifist. And after finding a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on 9/11, he embarks on an exceptional journey–an urgent, secret search through the five boroughs of New York. As Oskar roams the city, he encounters a motley assortment of humanity, who are all survivors in their own ways. Ultimately, Oskar's journey ends where it began, but with the solace of that most human experience: love.
Links from Other Sites You May Like
Showing 41 Comments
~ PLEASE NOTE ~
If, in any way, your comment is an attack on the author of this post or a previous commenter, your comment will be deleted without question.
Add a New Comment |
Click to Read Our Commenting Rules & Guidelines
A very good trailer!
Wow. The part where he says, "Dad, are you there?" brought tears to my eyes, and I haven't even seen the movie. That's a good sign for me!
Folks, i think we have a winner.
Doesn't look like a best picture winner to me. Sappy and emotionally manipulative, and Thomas Horn is… very clearly not an actor. I predict this is the one everyone hypes up as the surefire BP Nominee/Probable Winner until its release, whereupon it is greeted by a disappointed, lukewarm critical reception.
If you've read the book, its easier to see that they've marketed this movie the wrong way. The book is quirky and genius, and I think the director and writer and actors can and will bring that.
After seeing this trailer and having the same response as Kyle, I looked up the book on wikipedia. Well, there are examples there of reviews saying the book is "cloying", "sentimental" and "exploitative." Which sound exactly like this trailer.
You should actually read the book rather than make a glib judgment based on a Wikipedia entry. The book is awesome, plain and simple. I love that an emotional tale that references 9/11 is now deemed "exploitative." I didn't realize fiction couldn't reference tragic and emotional events in U.S. history.
This looks EXTREMELY good. BP nomination DEFFINATELY
Definitely looks sappy and feel-good…which means it should be right up the Academy's alley. But I don't think WB has the vote-buying ability of the Weinsteins. As far as a frontrunner…I think it's simply too early to pick a Best Picture frontrunner this year. Even among the performances you can get a general feel for how things have gone in the past and make an educated guess, but I just think the Best Picture field is too wide open this early to declare a frontrunner right now.
Looks pretty good to me (although I wish they used a different song…). I'm interested to see if Daldry can pull. out again a great performance from a young actor; Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot and David Kross in The Reader were fantastic, by far the best parts of both movies.
Brad, I think you better add Max von Sydow to your contenders for Best Supporting Actor. And Viola Davis is going to get in there somehow, just not sure for which movie.
Already writing the article on von Sydow :)
It looks like August Rush, IMO, but centered around the discovery of a deceased loved one, rather than trying to find a loved one.
hahaha that's so so stupid. august rush centers around kids playing music and one of thems parents coming together. this is about a kid who finds a key and tries to find out what it opens. the only similarity is that the main character is a kid. I'd go as far as saying that this is closer to hugo than anything else.
No need to be rude. It reminds me of August Rush for the reason that this kid is trying to learn more about his dad, as August was trying to learn more about himself. It also does remind me of Hugo. Still, very rude.
It looks like it could be a good story – I'm not sure if it will win best picture, but I think it has a good shot of being nominated, depending on how it resonates with people. The trailer is really well done, but what will the film hold in store? Will it sustain that same punch?
I think it looks pretty good. It also looks to me like it will be Oscar nomination number two for Sandra Bullock.
Looks really really good, Sandra's performance looks like an Oscar prediction or maybe a win.
I felt a little underwhelmed, I think they could have used a better song for sure. I am a huge Steven Daldry fan so I hope my feelings change, but as of right now it didn't strike me all that much.
This looks fantastic, but I still think "J. Edgar" or "War Horse" have greater chances at winning.
Definitely a sappy trailer. But the kid looks amazing.
Also, I'm wondering, will the studio campaign for Hanks in the supporting category or is he just too big a star? Seems like the type of role that will suffer from category (mis)placement.
not too impressed. too much competition.
I think it look's very good… I'm crazy to hear about the screening… When we will read anything on that??
Trailer too sappy, emotionally manipulative and cheesy for my liking. Saying all that, this is just a trailer and despite it being Oscar bait i'll be sure to check it out when it comes out.
I had no idea what it was about when I saw the trailer, so everything in the story was new to me. I don't know man don't you think using 9/11 is a tad manipulative? Eh.
I don't think its manipulative using 9/11. In fact I think that using 9/11 is very relevant. For example, WWII movies aren't about the actual war as an event but more focussed on the stories of those involved; of those impacted by the war. To me, it looks like 9/11 is an event that affects the characters and drives the plot (as it affected the lives of many that day). So I think it's more a sign of our time; 9/11 is the event that changed the lives of this generation.
Doesn't it just scream: 'Oscar! Give me an Oscar! GIVE ME AN OSCAR RIGHT NOW!!!' That's the reason I don't like Daldry's films – they've all seemed more intent on the little gold man than on emotional honesty. He really is the ultimate 'Oscar bait' director.
Daldry is the king of shallow, manipulative Oscar-bait prestige pics. The difference here is that the source material is significantly weaker than his previous award grabs.
I'd love to say this has no chance at the big awards, but then my mind cycles back to Paul Haggis picking up those trophies for 'Crash' and sad tears form in my eyes…
Just wondering if you read the source material? If not, how do you know if it's weak or not? I found the novel exceptional, near genius. I can only hope the movie lives up to the it and not the other way around.
Wow. This looks like a phenominal film fuelled by incredible performances, moticeably Sandra Bullock and Max Von Sydow!
Can not wait for this.
No sign of James Gandolfini though.
I kept thinking bullock was Marcia gay harden… not that its a bad thing – Marcia is a much better actress… but for bullock to look like that is not going to do her any favours in the rom-com genre.
the trailer was sweet… almost too sweet. dont see this winning the BP. but you never know with the 10 yr anniversary of 9/11 it might actually sneak a win.. wasnt blown away.. felt more like august rush meets HUGO ( that scorcesse 3d movie – based on just the trailer.)
Looks very good.
Oh.. don't cry Sandra, u make me sad. Deffo a nom for Sandra Bullock. Non for Tom Hanks. Hope this movie will elevate Viola at least so that she'll be remembered even if ppl forget The Help already.
Looks good … but I dont feel it will be a major player come Awards season … I may be wrong as one never knows if this might touch the soft chord of Academy members … in the manner "Crash" did … and walk away with Best Picture …
Best Supporting Actor looks a lock in for Sydow …
Best Adapted Screenplay .. highly likely
Best Supporting Actress for Sandra .. UNLIKELY
So all in all around 4-5 noms including Best Picture and may be a couple of tech noms … That's it !!
ill judge it when i see it, looks like it could be good or it could be one of them typical movies that aim for awards, if it gets too sappy count me out. However maybe it'll have a good message.
Looks crazy good, Oscar nominations for sure!
The only thing 'extreme' or 'incredible' about that trailer is its shamelessness. When people talk about the book, they mention its invention or intelligence in dealing with an issue, 9/11. This does not look even remotely insightful, just a feel-good pic that reduces an entire issue into over-calculated emotion and sentimentality. A 9/11 film should be difficult, challenging and dark: people died, were injured and have suffered significant psychological trauma, that's the story. That's not to say that an issue film should be relentless depressing, but it needs to shock or provoke you in some way, push you outside of your comfort zone. This just looks like the cinematic equivalent of comfort food: it may make you feel-good for a while, but ultimately it is bad for you.
Not a Sandra Bullock fan at all, but loved the book and think the film would be worth a look.
After seeing the trailer and reading about this film I can`t help but think if the story would be as appealing and touching for people outside the US. I do expect an excellent performance from Thomas Horn, the so called " big names " in the cast seem like " fillers " to me.
It looks good but nothing about it blew me away. The film definitely looks sweet and like it'll jerk some tears from people, but I can't possibly see this winning Best Picture.