News Of The World

Synopsis: Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl taken by the Kiowa people. Forced to return to her aunt and uncle, Kidd agrees to escort the child across the harsh and unforgiving plains of Texas. However, the long journey soon turns into a fight for survival as the traveling companions encounter danger at every turn -- both human and natural.

Movie Review:

“News of the World” is directed by Paul Greengrass and is an old school western that stars Tom Hanks. It is an emotional story and beautifully shot film that will pull at your heartstrings. Tom Hanks plays Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd a Civil War veteran who is tasked with bringing Johanna home. Of course, Hanks delivers a spectacular performance. And the audience loves getting to know this character and the reasons behind his pain throughout the movie. Helena Zengel who plays Johanna the little girl that he goes on this journey with is surprisingly fantastic. I really loved the father/daughter bond that forms between Johanna and Captain Jefferson; it was definitely the heart of the film. Even though Zengel doesn’t have much dialogue, the expressions on her face were incredible and she had some funny comedic reactions. The supporting cast was great as well… Neil Sanlilands a creepy stalker stalks the pair on their journey which leads to an intense cat and mouse shoot out that was one of the best scenes of the film. Mare Winningham and Ray Mckinnon had a limited scene appearance but they do make the most of it. This movie does have some negatives – The movie is slow at times and boring in parts, and It seems repetitive and predictable at the end. But that said, this is a western about relationships and survival with strong performances by Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. I am giving “News of the World” a 4 out of 5 stars.

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Neil Sandilands, Mare Winningham, Ray Mckinnon, Elizabeth Marvel, Thomas Francis Murphy, Michael Angelo Covino and Fred Hechinger

Runtime: 118 minutes