News of the World
News of the World
Starring Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Michael Covino, Fred Hechinger
Directed by Paul Greengrass
Starring Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Michael Covino, Fred Hechinger
Directed by Paul Greengrass
It's so interesting to think especially in today's day and age that there were people in America who didn't know what was happening in the world in an instant. News is so frequent now that there's several networks dedicated to 24-hour news reporting, there's countless websites offering different news and viewpoints, and you can't go anywhere without someone talking about the current state of affairs. Yet back during the Civil War time, news didn't come as frequently or simply - you had to traverse the landscape to literally read the newspaper to people in towns who couldn't read themselves and who wouldn't otherwise have access to such information.
Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) is a man who literally travels all around and reads the news to people who pay to hear it. He's a nomad - he doesn't stay in one single place too long before he's moving onto the next town. It's a solitary life, and he doesn't seem to mind it - until he comes upon a murder scene where an African American man was hanged, and a girl is left frightened and alone. When Kidd tries to talk to the child, she speaks in Kiowa, and Kidd finds paperwork and learns her name is Johanna and she was kidnapped by the Kiowa Native Americans after killing her parents. He takes her to the next town where he plans on leaving her with the Indians affairs representative, but learns he's gone for three months. After unsuccessfully leaving the child with a friend, he decides to bring her along with him to bring her to her only living relatives. Along the way they stop at different towns, and the language barrier between the two begins to fall. Yet it's not all perfect, as they come across ruthless kidnappers, seedy political leaders, and other dangers that threaten their journey.
There's certain films that have this sense of "dryness" to them, where you watch the thing and think..."hm, nothing really happened." This happened with another Tom Hanks-led film "Cast Away," and happens again here - while the film is entirely beautiful and lavish with sweeping visuals, a luscious score, excellent cinematography, top-notch directing, and undeniably perfect performances, the film as a whole feels very dry. You know the outcome long before it ends, and much like the discussion that Kidd and Johanna have on the road, the film is entirely a straight line to get to that point, and doesn't deviate in any way. Its one of those films that you desperately need to be in the mood to see, otherwise you'll find yourself nodding off, but if you go in with high expectations, they'll be easily met. It just might not be one you'd go to for repeat viewings.
The story is based off a novel by the same name by Paulette Jiles, and it's essentially a Western film in pretty much every sense of the word. Horse-drawn carriages traverse the rugged landscape as we go from one set piece to another, where Kidd reads the news, collects his funds, and moves on. In between we get to see the lovely nature that was then-unspoiled and sprawling, before entering the next small town. When he picks up the feisty and unruly Johanna, Kidd's life becomes much more hectic as he tries to communicate with her, but she only speaks Kiowa. This language barrier is a hurdle at first, but as the two begin to trust one another they learn how to communicate differently and learn each others' language.
Films like this rise and fall on the very small cast, and here there's no better anchor than the ever-amazing Tom Hanks, who once again relies on his natural charm and charisma to play Kidd with effortless magic. He can do this type of thing in his sleep, but he's always the consummate professional and pours his heart and soul into every frame.
It's not easy to act against a powerhouse like Hanks, but German child actress Helena Zengel (in her first American role) manages to eat up each scene she's in, providing a blend of youthful innocence, bravery, ingenuity, and cunning wise beyond her twelve year old frame. The two of them have such a simple rapport that it's very easy to fall in love with both of the characters and hope for the best, even though again you pretty much know the outcome in the end.
The film is essentially an episodic one, with events occurring in different towns that add to the character development for both Kidd and Johanna, and the travels serve as the connecting bridge to them. In one town they're chased by three men who wish to purchase Johanna and then steal her, resulting in a tense shootout confrontation. In another town there's a corrupt politician who wants Kidd to read his own news (fake news anyone?) to the people who are subjugated to working for him, but Kidd decides to do the right thing and read the real news, again resulting in a tense confrontation. This helps to break up the monotony, but still it's just a straight path to the ultimate conclusion.
If you're looking for a fantastic Western-period piece that's more drama than shootouts, "News of the World" will tickle your fancy due to a top notch production team both in front of and behind the camera, even if the film itself is a bit dry.
The Score: A+
Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) is a man who literally travels all around and reads the news to people who pay to hear it. He's a nomad - he doesn't stay in one single place too long before he's moving onto the next town. It's a solitary life, and he doesn't seem to mind it - until he comes upon a murder scene where an African American man was hanged, and a girl is left frightened and alone. When Kidd tries to talk to the child, she speaks in Kiowa, and Kidd finds paperwork and learns her name is Johanna and she was kidnapped by the Kiowa Native Americans after killing her parents. He takes her to the next town where he plans on leaving her with the Indians affairs representative, but learns he's gone for three months. After unsuccessfully leaving the child with a friend, he decides to bring her along with him to bring her to her only living relatives. Along the way they stop at different towns, and the language barrier between the two begins to fall. Yet it's not all perfect, as they come across ruthless kidnappers, seedy political leaders, and other dangers that threaten their journey.
There's certain films that have this sense of "dryness" to them, where you watch the thing and think..."hm, nothing really happened." This happened with another Tom Hanks-led film "Cast Away," and happens again here - while the film is entirely beautiful and lavish with sweeping visuals, a luscious score, excellent cinematography, top-notch directing, and undeniably perfect performances, the film as a whole feels very dry. You know the outcome long before it ends, and much like the discussion that Kidd and Johanna have on the road, the film is entirely a straight line to get to that point, and doesn't deviate in any way. Its one of those films that you desperately need to be in the mood to see, otherwise you'll find yourself nodding off, but if you go in with high expectations, they'll be easily met. It just might not be one you'd go to for repeat viewings.
The story is based off a novel by the same name by Paulette Jiles, and it's essentially a Western film in pretty much every sense of the word. Horse-drawn carriages traverse the rugged landscape as we go from one set piece to another, where Kidd reads the news, collects his funds, and moves on. In between we get to see the lovely nature that was then-unspoiled and sprawling, before entering the next small town. When he picks up the feisty and unruly Johanna, Kidd's life becomes much more hectic as he tries to communicate with her, but she only speaks Kiowa. This language barrier is a hurdle at first, but as the two begin to trust one another they learn how to communicate differently and learn each others' language.
Films like this rise and fall on the very small cast, and here there's no better anchor than the ever-amazing Tom Hanks, who once again relies on his natural charm and charisma to play Kidd with effortless magic. He can do this type of thing in his sleep, but he's always the consummate professional and pours his heart and soul into every frame.
It's not easy to act against a powerhouse like Hanks, but German child actress Helena Zengel (in her first American role) manages to eat up each scene she's in, providing a blend of youthful innocence, bravery, ingenuity, and cunning wise beyond her twelve year old frame. The two of them have such a simple rapport that it's very easy to fall in love with both of the characters and hope for the best, even though again you pretty much know the outcome in the end.
The film is essentially an episodic one, with events occurring in different towns that add to the character development for both Kidd and Johanna, and the travels serve as the connecting bridge to them. In one town they're chased by three men who wish to purchase Johanna and then steal her, resulting in a tense shootout confrontation. In another town there's a corrupt politician who wants Kidd to read his own news (fake news anyone?) to the people who are subjugated to working for him, but Kidd decides to do the right thing and read the real news, again resulting in a tense confrontation. This helps to break up the monotony, but still it's just a straight path to the ultimate conclusion.
If you're looking for a fantastic Western-period piece that's more drama than shootouts, "News of the World" will tickle your fancy due to a top notch production team both in front of and behind the camera, even if the film itself is a bit dry.
The Score: A+
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