I don't think that i have ever been more happy to write about a movie. The last six months of my life I have been waiting for things to happen. In the time that it has taken me to wait I have had to adjust to what was going on. I am no different than everyone else in the world because the whole world has had to adjust. The reason that I am so happy to be writing about News of the World is because my beloved Regal Movie Theaters has finally re-opened their doors after a six month closure! I have also been waiting for this movie to come out. I know that it did come out at Christmas but I was not willing on paying the money that the streaming services wanted me to pay because I could see it in the theater for cheaper. However, I am very honored that the first movie that I got to see on my welcome back trip to the movies was a Tom Hanks film.
Captain Kidd is a news man, but not in your tradition sense. He travels from city to city reading the stories in Newspapers from all over the country, and even the world. He gathers his stories and travels to different parts of Texas in order spread the word and make a living. While heading to the next city if finds a wagon that has been turned over and the driver murdered. When he is just about to bury the driver and move on he spots a 10 year old girl. While trying to figure out why she is there he discovers that she has been living with the Kiowa tribe for most of her life. That she was taken by them when she was very young and had been raised by them. The paperwork the driver was carrying says that he was trying to get her to her Aunt and Uncle. Kidd takes her to the nearest town and finds that someone who can help is not going to be back for another three months. He decides that he will be the one who will reunite her with her family as he travels with the News of the World.
In all of my knowledge of movies, and all of the interests that I have, I am constantly shocked by westerns. I am not sure why but I feel like when someone wants to watch one I always have dread because I don't think they are going to be that good. I think that they are going to drag on, or just be a lot of shooting of guns, and that's it. However, I am always proven wrong when it comes to them. There is always something interesting, or some drama. It's never what I think that it's going to be. This movie was no exception.
What I loved about this movie is that you get the always amazing Tom Hanks on another journey of self discovery in his character. You would think that a many with so many hats would find it hard to come connected with another character. However, he does it well. There is this pain that you notice from the second he is on the screen that he hides and shows at just the right time. There is the self doubt, and the anger. The heartache and even the joy that shines ever so slightly though is done really well. Mr. Hanks is not one of those actors that is stuck in one role. He known for many different roles, and has many favorites among fans. However, not many actors can suspend you belief and separate himself from every other character that he has played. I know him as the voice of Woody. I was very young when that movie came out. Then I knew him from A League of Their Own and thought that I could never take him seriously after that. Mr. Hanks is just like a western.... he shocks me every time.
There is this story that I heard several years ago about the film Meet Me in St. Louis, about how Judy Garland was the star of the movie but everyone came out talking about Margaret O'Brien. Ms. O'Brien basically stole the whole show from Ms. Garland even though the whole show was perfectly matched with Ms. Garland (whole other story that I won't talk about right now). I will be more shocked if this movie does not have the over whelming mention on Ms. Helena Zengel. Ms. Zengel plays that 10 year old in this movie. I will say that I have never had a child surprise me with such a well done performance! I think what really impressed me about her performance the most was how well she had to use her facial expression and her body language in the film. She wasn't silent, but she hardly spoke any English in film either. Her character was raised by the Kiowa tribe and spoke their tongue. Due to the language barrier between her character and Mr. Hanks' she really did have to use a lot a skills that most child actors don't have. She has been in about 10 different TV shows or movies at this point. I think that this is really just the beginning for her.
Over all I will be watching this movie again. It was well written, well cast, and very well executed. It was thrilling, sad, and joyous all at the same time. It's a movie that I will be recommending. I look forward to more Tom Hanks film and I now will also be looking forward to more Helena Zengel movies as well.
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