There’s nothing like a good tearjerker. Everyone has those certain movies that can conjure up a tear no matter how many times you’ve seen them. There are only a handful of movies, however, that require an entire box of Kleenex. “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” is definitely one of those movies.

Centered on the Sept. 11 attacks, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” tells the story of 9-year-old Oskar, played by the incredibly talented new actor Thomas Horn. Oskar searches for the matching lock to a peculiar key that was left behind by his father, played by Tom Hanks, who died in the twin towers.

The journey becomes less of a search for a physical lock and more of a quest to find any sense of normalcy after what Oskar calls “the worst day.” He meets people of different color, age and social class, all while battling his fear of social situations. The people he meets give him sympathy and tell him their stories as well.

The person who helps Oskar grow the most comes from an unexpected place. Upon going to his grandmother’s house, Oskar finally meets the “mysterious renter” who he had been forbidden to talk to. “The Renter,” played by Max von Sydow, doesn’t speak or give Oskar any details about who he is, but he decides to help Oskar on his journey. The silent interactions are exactly what Oskar needs, and for the first time since “the worst day,” his cry for help is finally heard.

Of the many heart-wrenching scenes in this movie, the biggest tear-jerker was a conversation Oskar has with his mother, played by Sandra Bullock in her first role since “The Blind Side.” Without spoiling too much, the conversation allows Oskar and his mother to find at least a semblance of peace after the death of his father and her husband. The dialogue and emotion of both actors resonates from the screen, making the audience feel like it is there, feeling the same pain the characters feel.

In a way, that’s exactly why this movie is able to make a connection. Everyone has been affected by Sept. 11 in some way. The Academy Award Best Picture nominee brings the human side to the historic event we all witnessed. Through Oskar and his parents, we realize that average, genuinely good people were destroyed because of one day, and that realization definitely brings the tears. So seriously, don’t forget your tissues.