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Reel World Reality A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2012.028  (2011), PG-13 [PG(13)*] (121.75min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Production (US): Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions Distribution (US): Warner Bros Home Entertainment Director(s): Stephen Daldry Producer(s): Scott Rudin, Celia Costasd, Mark Roybal, Nora Skinner, Eli Bush, Tarik Karam, Jane Tenggren Based on the novel by: Jonathan Safran Foer Screenplay: Eric Roth Cinematography/Camera: Chris Menges Music: Alexandre Desplat Film Editing: Claire Simpson Casting: Ellen Lewis, Mele Nagler Production Design: K. K. Barrett Art Direction: Peter Rogness Viewed on Warner Bros Home Entertainment Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is an unusual production regarding distribution of assaults on morality and wholesome ethics. It earned a "hardcore" PG-equivalent final score of 69 at two points above the upper threshold for PG-13 equivalence (67 to 55 out of 100) but in the scoring range earned by PG movies (86 to 68 out of 100) nonetheless. Note, however, that with an area score of zero out of 100 the Impudence/Hate (I) content investigation area found content to clearly be R-equivalent. Four of the other five investigation areas (S, D, O and M) found content to be G- or PG-equivalent with one, Wanton Violence/Crime (W), finding content to be equivalent to the MPAA posted PG-13 classification. But the Impudence/Hate investigation area having an area score of zero out of 100 makes it clearly R-equivalent, not so much from extreme or bold examples of assault on morality and decency as from there being so many examples of assault. See our CAP Rule of 1000 publication for more information on this content loading technique of using many "lesser" examples of assault to achieve the same "feel" of using fewer but more extreme or bold examples. Adolescent Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) looses his father, Thomas (Tom Hanks) on "the worst day" -- in the 9-11 collapse of the Twin Towers. In an episode of snooping through his father's stuff a year later Oskar discovers a brass key in a small envelope with "Black" written on it. Oskar surmises "Black" is someone's name who knew his father and that his father wanted him to find the lock that fits the key. Oskar must find the one named Black to find out what was locked up with the key. It must be something that can help him find answers. He launches a search for all the people in NYC with the name Black - 472 of them. Every Saturday and Sunday Oskar would lie to his mother about his whereabouts and would methodically and systematically visit the people on his list of people with the name Black. Oskar built an intricate and thorough plan for visiting all the people named Black even if it took him three years. The plan was so detailed and complete it would put the CIA to shame. Initially Oskar conducted the search alone but eventually Oskar connected with the "renter" (Max von Sydow) -- a man who rented a room from Oskar's nearby grandmother. Together, Oskar and the "renter" scoured NYC to find the man or woman named Black named on the envelope of the mysterious key. After visiting uncounted people with the last name of Black, it was the ghosting of an indelible marker through news print paper that led Oskar back to the beginning to find what for which he was searching. This film is over two hours long and to try to even summarize it any further here would take too much space ... and time. Besides, presenting the plot in any more detail may spoil it too much should you decide by what we tell you about the content that it is fit. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 67 out of 100 This film is not all that violent but the influence of some of the matters which are of the violent nature could definitely be harmful, such as the portrayal of Oskar harming himself, him running about NYC alone and at night and scenes of bodies falling out of the Twin Towers. The violence of emotional upheaval to the point of physical combat against a parent portrayed in this film may be destructive to the coping skills of the young. [1 Cor. 15:33] Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 The content of the film applicable to this investigation area is far too lengthy to summarize here. Please look to the listing in the Findings section for a full accounting of the content. this film explores in great detail many of the ways a film can make an adolescent disrespectful and hateful. [Rom. 12:18, Exod. 20:12] Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100 The only matters of sexually immoral display included a side view of Oskar nude plus repeated displays of a transvestite in his chosen garb. [Deut. 22:5] Before anyone launches a hate speech attack, remember that we did not write the Rules. He who spent three days in Hell so we would not have to spend one moment there did. If you have an issue with what I've said here, talk to Him. Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 78 out of 100 Smoking and drinking are demonstrated but not to any great extent. Once a character "rescues" his drink of apparently whiskey out of hiding from an adolescent but still handles it in front of the adolescent. Oskar follows the "renter" into a bar. Though smoking and drinking are not portrayed to any great extent, any extent can be great to the impressionable observer. The American College of Physicians (ACP) found in 2002 that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The report entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was Offense to God (O) - 95 out of 100 Twice an adult abuses God's name in the three-syllable sentence of ever-growing popularity that has His name trailing it. That the expression is popular does not excuse the sin of using His name in vain. [Deut. 5:11] Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 There were no suicides nor murders portrayed in the entire 121.75 minutes of the movie. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 67 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 75 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 78 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 95 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
