For those that don’t read books regularly or pay attention to The New York Times bestseller list, Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2005 release Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close became a bestseller for several weeks despite criticism from publications that found it “contrived” or “sentimentally watery.” However, it would also find its way on some writers’ top 10 lists of the year.
Warner Bros. Pictures, which is also positioning Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar for Oscar prestige, will open Extremely Loud on Christmas Day. This first trailer, highlighted by U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name,” could be a major player as it is supported by the star power of Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, with Viola Davis, James Gandolfini and John Goodman filling out supporting roles. But the person who is getting some awards buzz is Max Von Sydow, who also appears in the December release The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Surprisingly, he’s only been nominated once for an Oscar – losing to Dustin Hoffman’s performance in Rain Man back in 1989.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close arrives courtesy of Stephen Daldry, a director who has the distinction of being the only filmmaker to have all of his films (Billy Elliot, The Hours, The Reader) nominated for Best Picture as well as receive noms for his directing. Can he make it 4 for 4 this year?
