If I was assigned by a major studio to adapt the book Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close in to a movie, I would have a lot to consider.
The biggest and most prominent question would be: what should it be turned in to? I would agree with the current adaptation of the book, which was turned in to a movie. I just can't figure out a way that the book would be able to be a television show, because there are too many small plots within the large plot. Because of all of these small plots, each individual episode, unless watched back-to-back, would lose sight of some of those small plots, making for a very confusing show. I would choose to make it a movie because all of the large and small plots could flow together simultaneously, with little to no confusion, and all of the characters and settings could be correctly adapted and portrayed.
I believe that most of the parts at the end of the movie are very essential to keep in the movie. For instance, when Oskar finds out that his mom actually knew about his adventure the entire time, which is why she wasn't so worried. Also, I would definitely keep the part where he hears the message from eight months prior that leads him to the destination of the key. However, there are many subplots that could be avoided or fast forwarded through in order to keep the movie on pace. For instance, the movie wouldn't necessarily need to show all of the places that Oskar went. It could, however, show the very important meetings that are referenced again throughout the book or at the end of the book. I think that flashing back to the lives of Oskar's grandpa and grandma are very important because it adds an emotional value to the story when his grandpa actually enters the story. Also, it gives connections to a lot of people and subplots throughout the book. The best part of the book was realizing how everything is related, and how so many people are connected in some way or another. I would have to keep these elements in the movie in order to keep the connections alive.
Casting choices. Every great movie has a popular actor, or just somebody who engulfs the role. For this reason, I would choose Robin Williams as the father. Most people would feel sentimental towards such a character and actor. He also is very talented at truly becoming the character. That is what I want in an actor. Oskar would be played by Macauley Culkin (when he was a child). I would make this casting choice because I believe that he could show the emotion and intensity and need for the key that Oskar had in the book. Oskar lied a plethora of times throughout the book and I believe tha Macauley Culkin would be able to deliver this role perfectly.
I believe that an adaptation that was delivered through the lens that I am looking through would be very successful and entertaining while capturing the characterization and emotion that was shown throughout the story.
