News of the World

Tom Hanks is a 19th century newsman who reads newspaper stories to townsfolk in Texas. On his route of numerous locations, he comes across a young German-born girl who has been living under the care of native Americans who have been slaughtered. He takes it upon himself as her new guardian to escort her across the countryside to safety in the hope of finding her a new home. Along the way, they achieve an expected bond as two lonely souls in a treacherous world of danger of adversity.

Hanks is great as always, as the film is told from his weary, anguished eyes. But newcomer Helena Zengel steals the film from right underneath him with a mesmerizing performance as a young girl traumatized by personal tragedy, untrusting of the world around her and just beginning to learn her communication. Together, they bring this rugged journey to life. Director Paul Greengrass makes a vivid recreation of 19th century American wilderness, a land of difficult terrain and occasionally bitter climate. Through it all, it becomes a battle for survival for both the old man and the child he is protecting. An old school tale of American grit, this one is expertly crafted and highly recommended.

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

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.

I didn't really love this film. I think it is competently made and you can tell the director knew what he was doing, i just think it was pretty average.

The story is very slow, it is almost a road movie. You can see the ending coming from a mile off. I just don't know if this was a story that needed to be told.

The script was pretty beige to me too. It wasn't gripping. It wasn't really passionate either. It just felt like a movie script from a western from 2006 that we have all forgot and you may have rented from blockbuster once but you don't really remember it. It just wasn't fresh.

I do think the set pieces were pretty good. They looked really nice and in turn provided some lovely shots. I didn't love the colour of this film. It was very muted. I get that it was a western but it just looked really grey and washed out. Maybe this was a choice i just didn't love it.

The acting was pretty good especially from the two leads. Some of the other acting was a bit over the top and out of place. Some of the antagonists seemed like pantomime villains and i also think when they were on screen the script also sagged. It turned into Saturday mourning cartoons a little bit.

I do think some of the action scenes were engaging however. I think they were pretty tense and enjoyable to watch.

I think you could watch this, just keep in mind it is slow. Do i think it should win any awards. No. But you could definitely check it out.

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.