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 he 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 trully this amazing story of this child's point of view

of what happened in his life that was 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 mean, 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 NYC as those planes hit the WTC,

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

that were left behind by people trapped

in that tower for their families. Talk to me about that.

The fact we were fiven 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? -It's a gift.

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 the, 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'm 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 strenght 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 every scene.

You're in eight minutes, but he is in about every scene

-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 saw 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, ok? Let's end on a lighter note.

Christmas around the corner, I was reading

you're going to spoil the pants off of Louis.

-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, but then, no. I'm not going to tell you

because he understands everything.

You bought him a place, 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, I usually, 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. -Thank you, you too.

Good to see you. It opens in theaters

on january 20th.