News of the World

Two excellent leads ably supported by a great cast. You can almost taste the dirt and sweat of the period that the story is set in. Great direction and cinematography. If you like your westerns guns blazing then this film will not be for you. This is a simple story very well told. A fascinating study of what life was like back then and the hardships. Well worth watching

I am not sure why some people rated this movie below 7 but I really enjoyed it. I was thoroughly entertained because I felt the connection with the characters. Tom has the ability to make the viewers connected to the characters regardless of what role he is playing in a movie as he had done very nicely here in the News of the World. If you are a fan of Hanks, it's worth checking it out...it was worth my time/money...a good recommend and a solid 7 stars.

We all love tom Hanks and the little girl actress does such a good job. This is really historically accurate and realistic and i appreciate that. It's a sweet enjoyable story and not the same old tripe everyone is so used to. People don't appreciate good story and realistic movies anymore. Most people have the attention span of a spoon.. take for instance they think hell on wheels is the best show ever seen, even though it's a joke writing wise. This was actually well done. It was a bit odd how he didn't pick up his guns he tossed. And i think the horses disappeared and reappeared in one shot. But me and my family really enjoyed it. Great movie and worth seeing it. Don't listen to the sexist prejudice people in the reviews. Big yikes.. it's 2021 grow up.

The plot to "News of the World" is pretty simple and it's a leisurely paced film...somewhat like Clint Eastwood's "Cry Macho". It is set in 1870 in the Reconstruction Era in Texas. Captain Kidd (Tom Hanks) is a Civil War veteran who happens upon a head man and a wild blonde girl in the wilderness. There are papers with the dead man's possessions indicating that the girl, Johanna, was abducted and raised by Kiowa Indians after her parents were killed. She was discovered with the Kiowa and the US Army sent her with an agent to return her to her extended family. But he's dead...and no one seems willing to help...so Kidd finally agrees to take her the 400 miles to Castroville, Texas (near San Antonio).

As you'd suspect, this won't be easy since the child really wants to be with the Kiowa and she doesn't understand English. Her family were German immigrants...so she understands some German...but Kidd only knows a few words of the language himself. The film shows them on their journey across the Plains to her family.

This is a most enjoyable film and a nice change of pace for Tom Hanks. It also talks about a seldom discussed problem which happened on rare occasions...white kids being abducted and raised by various tribes. Interesting and never dull.

The combination of Tom Hanks in top form, as always, and director Paul Greengrass providing a visual delight and you have one of these joyous heartfelt films that often slip through the cracks. The story may be predictable but it is told with such warmth and feeling that I truthfully didn't want the film to end. A movie to gladden the heart in these difficult and depressing times.