Oskar Shell (Thomas Horn) is 11 when his dad (Tom Hanks) dies in the Twin Towers on 9/11. Oskar is different, a genius but wracked by fears and, perhaps Aspbergers Syndrome (not clear but very likely). His mom, Sandra Bullock, is struggling to make it through and now care as a single parent for this special child. Oskar sets out to find the key to a key he finds in his dad’s closet. He hopes it will be a message to him. He sets out a plan to unlock the key to the lock and does so with the aid of his grandmother’s mute roomer (Max Von Sydow). It is engrossing journey with excellent work from Horn, Bullock, Von Sydow, and Viola Davis as one of the homes Oskar visits. I enjoyed and was moved by this film but the perfect parents and the open New Yorkers all rang untrue. The overly sentimental ending also didn’t work for me. Still, it’s worth seeing to see the plot line develop, to hear good writing, and to see this kid Horn act. He’s scary good for a young actor. Really, really scary good. Another Oscar nominee but not worthy of the win