‘ News of the World’ drama feels irrelevant
The Western- style film,“News of the World,” stars Tom Hanks as a widower who has fought in three wars.
They speak of an America divided against itself — and of much information being suspect, with people being unsure of whom they can trust.
“Half of the population has passionately fought for a vision of the country that has been defeated. Now, the nation finds itself at a crossroads. It’s unclear whether America can heal itself, rediscover a sense of unity and move forward as one people again.”
These are not the observations of a presentday pundit but instead a bit of scene setting from the first paragraph of the production notes for “News of the World,” a drama that takes place five years after the end of the Civil War.
Unfortunately, they crystalize what feels like a missed opportunity for this Western directed and co- written by Paul Greengrass — to give us a new lens with which to view today’s United States.
However, the film is an adaptation of the 2016 novel of the same name by Paulette Jiles, so asking for it to be a thought- provoking metaphor for this precise time is more than a little unfair.
And while we’re criticizing ourselves, we should admit we’ve buried the lede: “News of the World” stars Tom Hanks.
The veteran actor is, quite simply, the most comforting presence we could ask for during these strange times. And, as did “Greyhound” — the World War II naval film that debuted on Apple TV+ in July — “News of the World” gets a bump by having Hanks at its center.
In the theater- bound “News of the World,” Hanks portrays Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a widower who has fought in three wars. Now, in 1870, Kidd spends his days traveling from town to town, reading articles from various newspapers to anyone with the interest and time to hear them, as well as a little coin to throw his way for the service.
In the plains of Texas, he encounters Cicada, aka Johanna Leonberger ( Helena Zengel), a 10- yearold whose family was killed by the Kiowa tribe, which then took her in and made her one of their own. ( Fans of the fantastic mid- 2000s HBO Western series “Deadwood” no doubt will be reminded of the origins of Bree Seanna
Wall’s character, Sofia, when they encounter Johanna.)
After being unable to hand off the girl, who speaks no English, to the authorities to return her to members of her extended biological family, Kidd reluctantly decides to do it himself. He plans to make news- reading stops along the way to pay for the journey.
From here, “News of the World” is vaguely episodic, Kidd running afoul of unrelated antagonists. The most disturbing of the bad dudes are a few down- out- out- former soldiers who see a profit to be made from acquiring Johanna by any means necessary. Kidd will have his hands full with these awful men. Fortunately, Johanna proves to be one capable child.
Much of the film is about the bond forming between Kidd and Johanna, who is initially desperate to return to the Kiowa. ( She also insists on eating chili with her hands. Something really needs to be done about that.)
Not surprisingly, the scenes shared between Hanks and Zengel (“System Crasher”) are enjoyable, thanks not just to the far- more- famous of the two. Zengel is completely convincing as this untamed girl who knows only the way of the people who adopted her.
Also expected: The movie benefits from having Greengrass at the helm. The director of films including the second two “Bourne” adventures, the excellent “United 93” and 2013’ s “Captain Phillips,” which also starred Hanks, has a skilled storytelling hand.
It is because “News of the World” has such a talented twosome in Hanks and Greengrass that its being merely fine — not wholly captivating — feels so disappointing.
Hate to say this at a time movie theaters are struggling, but “News of the World” is a wait- tillit’savailable- at- home type of affair — even if it offers beautiful shots of the American West.
Are there parallels to be drawn between the divided America of the late 1800s as presented in this film and the red states versus-blue states country we live in today? Sure. Plus, there is a distrust- ofthemedia component of “News of the World” that feels relevant, unfortunately.
Thankfully, though, you won’t hear the phrase “fake news” yelled at any point.