Son has made life 'more frightening,' Bullock says

Video: Sandra Bullock talks emotional new film

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   >>> with one of our favorite guests around here, sandra bullock . two years after winning the oscar she is finally returning to the big screen and the new movie is called " extremely loud and incredibly close ." sandra plays a 9/11 widow and mom to a 9-year-old boy trying to cope after their tragic loss. take a look.

   >> what do you miss about him?

   >> oh, i miss so many things about him.

   >> i miss how he could tell the weather just by touching the window.

   >> when woe cohe would come in the house and yell "what's everybody doing?"

   >> he told me. he said, i really love your mother. she's such a good girl.

   >> welcome back, sandra . it's nice to see you.

   >> thank you.

   >> i feel the need to start this interview by telling our viewers two things. one, bring tissues.

   >> yes.

   >> it's a very emotional and powerful movie. the second is if they're going to this movie because they want to see you, up on screen for the whole film, this is not that movie.

   >> true.

   >> you're in there about 15 minutes .

   >> it's actually 24 minutes .

   >> sorry. i miscalculated.

   >> throughout the whole film. strategically placed moments.

   >> yes.

   >> but, no. it's truly this amazing story of this child's point of view of what happened in his life that was this horribly tragic event and to see it through his eyes is far more i think poignant and impactful than to see it through an adult's eyes.

   >> i bring it up only -- first of all, you are great in those 22 minutes .

   >> 24.

   >> sorry. because -- 15 the way i calculate.

   >> 24.

   >> i like it because i like the fact that did you this. i think there are a lot of a-list actors who would have said this isn't a big enough star term for me and i admire your choice on that.

   >> i've already had those moments i think. i'm -- there might be more. i don't know. but i don't know how many moments and opportunities like this there will be with stories like this, with directors and casts like this. you know, it's where, like, the rare moments in life where all the elements are there and they all come together for some strange or bigger reason and i, you know, you can't say no to that.

   >> it's haunting stuff. i mean, it takes place, 9/11, or as it's called in the movie sometimes the worst day. here in new york city as those planes hit the world trade center , you were actually in the city, so this is close and personal for you as it is for a lot of people. as part of the research for this movie you went and listened to the voice mails left behind by people trapped in that tower for their families. talk to me about that.

   >> the fact we were given access to them by the families or that they allowed people to have access to them is pretty --

   >> why do you think they shared? were you surprised?

   >> i was at first until you see the tremendous gift it was to them, left by those who are no longer here. you know, so many of them were a progression of e-mails from i'm going to be fine. everything is great. don't worry. to, we're trying to find a way out. and then of course the final outcome. but i was absolutely and still am -- it's haunting and it's inspiring that the last message inevitably was one of hope for the families left behind and i -- as a human being you don't know how to comprehend that. but i -- i am so glad that those handful of people had that gift. they didn't have the contact that they would have loved, but they are able to have this gift and the strength of the loved one just what they gave is just mind blowing.

   >> let's talk about the young man who plays your son in this, thomas horn. i mean, he is in just about every scene. you're in eight minutes. but he is in about every scene here and he is extraordinary.

   >> yeah, yeah.

   >> when you look at him and you know this movie is going to change his career.

   >> yeah.

   >> what advice do you have for a young man like that?

   >> you don't give someone like thomas horn advice.

   >> why not?

   >> because he doesn't need it. this isn't going to be his sole career. he is destined to do so many things of great worth. not that acting isn't something of great worth. but he has his -- he knows what he is here to do and he has so many interests and he might only be 13, 14. i don't know if he's 13 or 14. but he is far more educated, wiser, kind, empathetic than most adults in this room and i don't say that as a negative thing. i just say that he is an extraordinary human being and he was given this opportunity. it was something he wanted to take. and he did not shy away from it from day one. it's frightening to watch his level of professionalism. it was frightening.

   >> tom hanks as well. max -- he never says a word without giving anything away about who his character is. he is a guy who either has lost the ability to speak or chooses not to speak. we don't know. and the power he brings is -- i was blown away by him.

   >> yeah. the beauty of this story is it shows so many points of view of grief and how vastly different they are. and, you know, we like to see pretty grief on film but in the end you have such a cathartic response to this movie. it lets you feel what you're feeling whatever it is. you know? and it's a rare thing.

   >> let's leave them laughing. let's end on a lighter note. christmas around the corner. i was reading you're going to spoil the pants off louie.

   >> yes.

   >> we have him in a sound proof booth down at nbc.

   >> yes.

   >> so he can't hear. what is the most extravagant thing you'll buy him?

   >> i don't know if i've stopped.

   >> what did you buy?

   >> i am not going to tell you.

   >> he can't hear.

   >> no. i'm not going to tell you because he understands everything.

   >> you bought him a plane didn't you?

   >> i kind of did. i got him a g-5. maybe he'll let mommy use it. i don't know.

   >> he'll grow into it. what is your favorite christmas song ? since you're musically trained.

   >> yeah, because that gene did not pass on to me like sometimes two doctors don't have a surgeon child. they have, well, we've seen what happens. it's usually my favorite christmas songs are ones that are like by some beautiful choir with a great orchestration and sounds like in some holy place .

   >> do you have a name?

   >> no, again, because there are many. i know you want me to pick one thing but life isn't about just one thing, matt.

   >> it's true.

   >> i'm sorry, you guys. you have to do this every day. i have to deal with this once every two years.

   >> the movie is incredible. extremely loud and incredibly close . sandra 's two minutes in this movie are just incredible.

   >> why am i here? why did i show up today?

   >> merry christmas .

   >> you too.

   >> good to see you. it opens in theaters on january 20th . and nationwide on that

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