And Inordinately Nondescript’ would complete the title
of this movie about a 11 year old boy coming to grips with his father who died
in the World Trade Center on 9/11 which I think was meant to have us reaching
for our Kleenex instead I was checking out where the nearest exit was.
Oskar the boy in question is distant with his mother
who was his least favorite parent and as the months pass after his father’s
death he gets more withdrawn from her and very secretive. He discovers a vase tucked away in the recess of his fathers closet
that holds a small envelope with the name Black on it and a key, and he decides
that this a ‘message’ from his father to him and sets about locating which Mr. or Mrs.
Black may be able to help him solve his mystery. There are some 472 of them in the NY phone
books and he obsessively drums up a plan to visit them all one by one. I should probably mention here that Oskar is autistic,
which accounts for his unusual (weird even) behavior and is another reason why
we should be more sympathetic with his plight, but somehow his character
doesn't really gel in a way that draws us completely into his corner.
Some of the ‘Blacks’ that he visits resonate with him
more than others especially the first two Abby and her husband who are
having their own major problems when Oskar calls on them to start his search …. but that’s
greatly helped by the fact that they are played superbly by Viola Davis and
Jeffery Wright.
Oskar is accompanied part of the time on his quest by
an elderly man who is staying with his paternal Grandmother and is known as ‘The
Renter’ who doesn't speak at all and communicates by written notes, and
eventually we learn that he is in fact his Grandmother. I read somewhere that the fact the
grandparents were themselves Holocaust survivors is in part a metaphor for the
whole 9/11 tragedy, but I tend to believe is more likely just one of the many
extraneous plot details that didn't really make that much sense in this muddled
story.
The veteran actor Max Von Sydow who turns in the best
performance in this rather contrived movie plays the Renter. Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks play Oskar’s
parents but as this is the boy’s story he is the real star of the piece. Played by young Thomas Horn who was ‘spotted’
being a junior Jeopardy champion and suits the spotlight in his first
ever-acting role.
I’m sure there will be better and less preposterous
stories to be told about how this dark period in our recent history affected
the lives of the families that were left behind. This one is even more disapointing because of
the fact it was directed by the exceptionally talented Stephen Daldry (The Hours, The Reader, Billy Elliot) and has spoiled his unblemished
record to date. But the most
unexplainable thing about this movie, is how on earth did it ever got nominated for
a Best Picture Oscar. Beats me.
P.S. Oscar Trivia : both Viola Davis and John Goodman (plays Oskar's doorman) are in TWO of the Nominated Best Pictures.
★★★★★★
★★★★★★
