News Of The World is a movie with a whole lot of heart!
Taking place 5 years after the civil war, this movie tells the story of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), a man who goes around from town to town reading the news of the world (hence the name) for a profit. En route to the next town, he comes across a young girl named Johanna, played by Helena Zengel, who is an orphan. Actually, she has been orphaned twice – once from her birth parents who were killed during a raid by the Kiowa, and once from the Kiowa family that raised her and were attacked by soldiers. Wanting to help, he takes on the task of delivering her to her Aunt and Uncle who live over 400 miles away, The journey isn’t an easy one and is filled with various dangers along the way.
While the exciting parts of the film are the difficulties they face along the way, the heart of the film is the relationship between Hanks and Zengel. Wild and uncooperative at first, KIdd has a difficult time getting through to Johanna initially, especially because she only speaks in the language of the Kiowa. Overcoming the language barrier and finding ways to communicate and create a relationship in the process may just earn Tom and Helena some awards. News of the World reminds you of just how good of an actor Tom Hanks is and that he can pull off scenes where he is basically talking to himself.
Overall Thoughts
Despite the movie dragging at times, there were some exciting parts that had me on edge and kept me interested in the film. I am not sure this is the kind of film that I would want to watch again but I do think it is worth the watch, I don’t think it is the kind of film that the kiddos would enjoy but if you do decide to let them watch it, please note that there is a scene where you see someone hanging from a tree.
News Of The World is in select theaters on Christmas!
About News of the World
Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe.
In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel, System Crasher), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will.
Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home.
