News of the World

News of the World (2020)

Director: Paul Greengrass

Writers: Paul Greengrass (screenplay),  Luke Davies (screenplay), Paulette Jiles (novel)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Ray McKinnon, Mare Winningham, Elizabeth Marvel, Michael Angelo Covino, Cash Lilley, Clay James, Tom Astor, Andy Kastelic

Synopsis:

Five years after the end of the Civil War, former Confederate Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks) travels from town to town in Texas working as a non-fiction storyteller, reading news from around the world. While traveling between towns, he encounters Johanna (Zengel), a 10-year old girl taken in by the Kiowa and raised as one of their own after they murdered her family. Johanna was on her way to be returned to her aunt and uncle against her will when the wagon transporting her was attacked. So Kidd takes it upon himself to return the child to her family. As they travel, the pair face bandits, prejudice, sandstorms and exposure, and they eventually learn that the place they belong is with each other.

First Impressions:

This movie represents a couple of firsts for this blog in that it's a relatively recent film, and I've never seen so much as a clip from it outside of the trailer. So, obviously, I have no pre-existing opinion of the film, and what you're about to read will be my actual first impression. So, with no further preamble, let's jump in.

Story/Direction:

 "See all those words printed in a line one after the other? Put 'em all together and you have a story."

Like any good western - and if I may be permitted to spill my opinion early, this is an excellent western - this film is abundant with themes surrounding the human condition, many of which can be applied to our modern existence. There's a lot to unpack here, and I'll try my best to do it without spoilers. The world this film takes us to is a tumultuous one, set in the Southern U.S. after the Civil War. Even though the conflict had been over for five years, tensions were understandably high, and the world was changing not just for those on the losing side but all across the country. That's directly related to the central theme that I pulled from this film, that change is constant, and we can either accept the change and move on or rail against it in a futile attempt to maintain the status quo. Most of the characters in the film are dealing with that change in their own way. Captain Kidd is coping with losing the war and realizing that his side was also in the wrong. Johanna must cope with the fact that she is being pulled from the only life she's known through a government decree. Even the individuals the pair comes into contact with throughout their journey must deal with change, whether it's the potentate of a mining camp still clinging to the old ways or Johanna's long lost relatives who have no idea how to deal with a little girl, who they see as a savage. Change impacts us all, and we can either accept it or die trying to prevent it. Either way, it happens.

There are other themes scattered throughout the movie, though. Of course, being set shortly after the American Civil war, the theme of tolerance is explored, though not as much as I thought it would be. Also, both Kidd and Johanna have trauma that they need to deal with within their pasts. Kidd must deal with the death of his wife, while Johanna must deal with the death of her family that led her to be raised by the Kiowa in the first place. Finally, one area that I wished was delved into more was the plight of the Native Americans during this period. It was seen on the peripheral, and of course, the government's treatment of the local tribes is mentioned. Still, it's only really on the sidelines, and it would have been nice to see it take a more prominent role as it's an era issue that often gets shoved into the background.

As for the story itself, director Paul Greengrass and company don't give us anything too complex (again, like any good western). It really is about Kidd's decision to take on this little girl and take her to her family and the trials they meet along the way. It's a solid effort that avoids the modern tendency to go too high concept to seem more complex than it needs to be. It's a simple story, well told, and that's all we as the audience need sometimes. 

Acting/Characters:

There are really only two significant roles to speak of in this film Hanks' Captain Kidd and Zengel's Johanna. So let's start out with the gift to mankind that is Tom Hanks. Is there a better actor from his generation? I'm honestly asking because I'm not sure there is. Hanks imbues any role he takes on with so much humanity that it's impossible not to like him. He plays Kidd as a quiet man trying to move on (and sometimes avoid) the trauma of his past but filled with compassion for others. Kidd was a Confederate officer, which is also very important to the change theme that I mentioned earlier. It's never explicitly said whether Kidd supported the Confederate's ideals during the war, but it's clear that he has a very different outlook than many of his peers when we meet him. Additionally, the chemistry he displayed with Zengel was a high point of the film.

Speaking of Zengel, let's talk a bit about her performance and how difficult it must have been. You have a young girl born in Germany, doing an American movie, speaking mostly Kiowa, while having to emote at the same time. That's a tall task for even the most established actors, let alone a 10-year-old. Nevertheless, Zengel manages to run Johanna through the gamut of emotions from rage to despair to finally pure happiness by the end. It's an outstanding performance from a young actor, who we'll hopefully see more of as her career progresses. 

Visual/Special Effects:

Despite it being unusual for most westerns, this film has a fair bit of visual effects going on, mostly to do with weather effects. These include a torrential downpour and a vicious sandstorm. While the effects in both cases were clearly CGI, they didn't take me out of the film at all and were well done for the most part.

Outside of the special effects, the film is aces visually. It was shot in New Mexico, and like many westerns (I feel I say this a lot), the landscape was a character unto itself. The film is beautifully shot, and the costumes and sets look true to the period. All-in-all, not only is this movie good, but it also looks good.

Score/Music:

James Newton Howard is responsible for the music in this film, and it may be one of my favorite efforts from him. The score is quite subtle through most of the film but rises to the occasion when needed. It really suited the period but at the same time didn't feel old-fashioned. As I've mentioned before, I don't know much about music from a technical standpoint, but I know what I like, and I like this.

Action:

News of the World does not have a ton of action in it, at least not what one would typically associate with a western (gunfights). There is one gunfight to lead off the second act, which was a refreshing change of pace as Kidd, while proficient in using a firearm, was by no means a skilled gunman. The sequence is in an area full of rocky outcroppings that create a very tense feeling. Other sequences of note included the sandstorm mentioned above and an exciting chase sequence leading up to the gunfight. Again, not a ton of action, but what's there is well done. Also, I must note to those familiar with Greengrass work that there is very little shaky-cam to be found in this movie (thankfully).

Final Verdict:

I love this film. It has nestled its way into my list of favorite movies of the decade so far and is near the top of my list of favorite westerns of all time. So check it out if you're a fan of westerns, Tom Hanks or just plain old great movies.