News of the World – Solid But Not Game-Changing News (Early Review)

In a year that has wiped out most big film releases, News of the World is one of the last big prestige holiday releases (alongside Wonder Woman 1984). In any other year, it still would have stood out but this year’s circumstances have perhaps increased the spotlight upon it. Meanwhile, the same spotlight may have also contributed to the hyping of the film. That being said, the film is the latest collaboration between Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass following 2013’s underrated Captain Phillips so some of that hype is certainly warranted though it has arguably consumed many. This statement is not an indictment by any means, however, as the film is an epic, sprawling Western led by the consistent charm of Hanks who once again delivers a dynamite performance (though he can only take things so far). In the end, the film can’t quite sustain that energy, dipping at times and missing the landing as the story got consumed by its landscape rather than the landscape being consumed by the story.

News of the World tells the story of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks), a war veteran who now travels from town to town sharing news from across the country and the world to the busy masses and providing them an escape from their mostly difficult circumstances. While traversing the Texas plains, Kidd came across a 10-year-old orphan girl named Johanna (Zengel) who was kidnapped by the Kiowa people 6 years prior and raised as one of their own. Separated from the world she had come to learn, she was nothing but hostile as she was in the process of being taken to her aunt and uncle against her will. That hostility continued towards Kidd as he agreed to deliver Johanna the rest of the way. Suffice it to say that this journey would not be an easy one for Kidd as the tortured veteran faced a steep learning curve with Johanna as well as the unpredictable environment and people found within their travels.

To that effect, News of the World featured some truly beautiful cinematography at times but it still felt like the film was lacking. Though the major part of the film was the relationship between Kidd and Johanna which was compelling more often than not as it inevitably evolved over the course of their journey, spawning some key moments, it wasn’t enough to make up for the gaps in the story made up by thin characters and subpar character development. Just like the characters, the story was lacking direction. Nevertheless, it still saw Kidd’s principles and his duty towards Johanna put to the test by some unsavoury characters they encountered along their journey. However, he still found a way to have an impact. Meanwhile, their environment also struck back in moments that showed off technically through some great visual effects and sound design (though the spotty editing left much to be desired). While their journey eventually had to end, the failed buildup lessened the impact of that ending. The film just couldn’t consolidate Kidd’s story beyond his harrowing journey with Johanna, essentially making the film as a whole 2/3 of the film it could have been.

Ultimately, the best part of News of the World was its stellar performances from Hanks and Zengel as Kidd and Johanna. As he often does, Hanks delivers once again, carrying Kidd and the film with his charm alone. To his credit, he does go further than that here as the tortured veteran who found refuge in his new role. It was just a shame that the film couldn’t dive into that past and how it connected to his present more than it did here. Hanks certainly drew more out of than what was there. He was at his best with Zengel who definitely held her own with Hanks while making a difficult role on paper, a mostly non-dialog one relying on body language and facial expression, look easy.

In conclusion, News of the World may not reach the hype but is still a solid adventure that will be right up of the alley of Hanks fans.

still courtesy of Universal Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.