USA: Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock attend New York premiere of their latest film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."

Record ID: 319333

  • Title: USA: Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock attend New York premiere of their latest film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."
  • Date: 16th December 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 15, 2011 ) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN DALDRY, DIRECTOR, SAYING: "Our lead actor is the young man, Thomas Horn, gives one of the most astonishing performances I think by a young actor in a movie sort of ever."
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA9QYALHU57HDTCNB2TUP0NIOS6
  • Story Text: Hollywood A-listers Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock hit the red carpet in New York for the premiere of their new film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" on Thursday (December 15).
    The family drama is an adaptation of the same titled bestseller by Jonathan Safran Foer, that follows the quest of 11-year-old Oskar Shell to find a lock left by his father, who is killed during the 9/11 attacks. Searching his way through the five boroughs of New York City, Oskar is determined to keep his vital connection to the man who cajoled him to confront his wildest fears.
    Hanks is in the role of Oskar's father, Thomas Shell, and stressed the importance of the bond between father and child.
    "I think it's a confiding thing that never goes away," the two time Oscar-winner told Reuters Television.
    "I have three sons, I have one daughter, and I think they all will probably, if they compared me they would all think they have a different dad because I have to relate to them all in a different particular sometimes persnickety, but always wonderful ways. So you can't plan it, you can't organize it you can only kind of roll with it and play by the seat of your pants. If you do that right, then they have pleasant memories of who you are and what you did."
    Hanks also said that having children is a blessing.
    "Having kids helps you for all of life. No matter what you do and no matter how you spend your time. Having kids is, look I don't know what life is without it," he said.
    Bullock is in the role of Hank's wife, Linda.
    In the film Bullock has to cope with the loss of her life's partner and face the challenge of being a single parent.
    For her role Bullock did extensive research. She listened to the real voice messages left by the victims of 9/11.
    "It was a great honor to have been able to listen to them. And it was a great inspiration to hear the love and support and strength that those people had who were in the towers and the message they wanted to leave behind knowing that they were probably not going to make it out alive," the star of "The Blind Side" said.
    Oskar, the main protagonist in the movie is portrayed by newcomer Thomas Horn.
    After appearing on an episode of game show "Teen Jeopardy," the teen got a call from a casting agency.
    Not in his wildest dreams Horn knew what was coming.
    "I didn't know who they were. I didn't even know what a casting agency was. They were the people who sent me the tape. But I was really curious so I decided 'what do I have to lose by sending this in.' So I sent it in, and two months later they called me in for audition in New York," the 13-year-old said.
    He thought that his chances of getting the role were slim.
    "I had auditions, five or six days with five or six other kids and that was pretty stressful. There was a lot of stuff going on there. But at the end I went home, and everything was fine, but I still wasn't sure I'd get the role. I thought I had chance as anyone else. But a month later, the director called me up," the teen said with a smile.
    Director Stephen Daldry said that he was deeply impressed by Horn, calling his performance "one of the most astonishing ever by a young actor in a movie."
    "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" is a moving drama exploring human ties through the eyes of a young boy, meeting people who are survivors each in their own way.
    The film will open in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto on December 25, and nationwide on January 20, 2012.
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