News of the World (2020)

A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.

Director:

Paul Greengrass

Writers:

Paul Greengrass (screenplay by), Luke Davies (screenplay by)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Tom Astor

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 49 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Captain Kidd
Helena Zengel	...	Johanna
Tom Astor	...	Cavalry Lieutenant
Travis Johnson	...	Cavalry Rider (as John Travis Johnson)
Andy Kastelic	...	Union Duty Officer
Ray McKinnon	...	Simon Boudlin
Mare Winningham	...	Doris Boudlin
Jeffrey Ware	...	Red River Heckler
Chris Bylsma	...	Red River Heckler
Justin Tade	...	Red River Heckler
Darrin Giossi	...	Federal Soldier
Brenden Wedner	...	Young Progressive Speaker
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Mrs. Gannett
Michael Angelo Covino	...	Almay
Clay James	...	Almay's Man

Storyline

Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom 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. On the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), 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.

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Plot Keywords:

1800s | western movie | neo western | rescue | wild west | 

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Taglines:

Find Where You Belong

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, thematic material and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of very few movies to show the effect of recoil upon stacking dimes in shotgun shell. A 3.5" brass shell can hold approximately 16 dimes, at nearly fifty percent more than the weight of a standard slug. Recoil is a function of the weight of the projectile and the gases discharged, so a heavier projectile produces notably greater recoil. Kidd is knocked back noticeably, and Johanna is almost knocked off her feet by the recoil.

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Goofs

After the scene when Captain Kidd shoots Almay, the first shot of the next scene when Johanna is preparing to place hand prints on the horse, she is heard singing, but her lips are not moving until the next shot.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Featured in 2021 Golden Globe Awards (2021)

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Soundtracks

Victory Song
Traditional
Arrangement by Dorothy White Horse Duluane (as Dorothy Whitehouse Delaune)

User Reviews

Hanks in the saddle

Greetings again from the darkness. Even in the midst of a pandemic, December is Oscar-qualifying time. And that means we get Tom Hanks' latest movie. This time out, the two-time Oscar winner reunites with his CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (2013) director Paul Greengrass (three "Bourne" movies, and Oscar nominated for UNITED 93, 2006) for Hanks' first ride into the western genre. Luke Davies (Oscar nominated for LION, 2016) adapted the screenplay from Paulette Jiles' 2016 novel.

The beloved Mr. Hanks stars as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd. We know his full name because he proudly announces it at each stop of his news-reading route. That's right, even in 1870, which is before television and radio and internet, a person could earn a living reading the news. OK, so it wasn't the millions that national anchors make these days, as he was dependent on the audience dropping a coin or two in the tin cup. For this they were treated to Captain Kidd's robust presentation of news and events (and some gossip) from around the nation ... straight from the news clippings he collected during his travels.

On the trail one day, Captain Kidd comes across a horrific scene of violence, and a 10 year old girl with a shock of blonde hair. She only speaks Kiowa, but the found paperwork lists her name as Johanna (the first American film for Helena Zengel). It turns out, tragic events in her family's home many years earlier left Johanna being raised by the Kiowa Indians. Captain Kidd is now on a mission to return her to her surviving relatives (an aunt and uncle), but there are at least three obstacles to his plan: it's a rigorous trip of about 400 miles, the girl doesn't want to go, and there remains much tension in the split among the post-war citizenry. So what we have here is a western road trip (trail ride) that's a blend of TRUE GRIT (minus the witty banter) and THE SEARCHERS.

It should be noted that Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd has served in three wars, including the recently concluded Civil War. He may make his living wearing bifocals and reading newspapers, but Kidd is no nerd. He handles pressure quite naturally, as we witness in chase scene up a rocky hill. The resulting shootout not only creates the first bond between Kidd and Johanna, but also flashes the Captain's calming influence. This is a soulful and principled Tom Hanks (as usual), but this time he's riding a horse and his furrowed brow is working overtime.

The trip to Johanna's home coincidentally takes Kidd very close to where he once lived - a place that holds his best and worst memories. As viewers we see what Captain Kidd and Johanna don't. They are both headed back to a past they no longer belong to. Along the way, the two travelers cross paths with characters played by Elizabeth Marvel, Ray McKinnon, Mare Winningham, and the always great Bill Camp. There is nothing rushed about the story or these people. Fans of director Greengrass will be surprised to find an absence of his trademark rapid-cut action sequences, but he has delivered a sweeping epic with superb cinematography (Dariusz Wolski, "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise), expert editing (Oscar winner William Goldenberg, ARGO), and a terrific score (8-time Oscar nominee James Newton Howard). Mr. Hanks delivers yet another stellar performance (of course), and young Ms. Zengel's assured performance likely means we will be treated to her work for years to come. It's a quasi-western period piece that is plenty interesting to watch, yet lacks the memorable moments to justify multiple watches or a place among the genre's best. Opens December 25, 2020

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Instagram

Country:

USA China

Language:

English North American Indian German

Release Date:

25 December 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

News of the World

Filming Locations:

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,250,430, 27 December 2020

Gross USA:

$12,002,450

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,002,450

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perfect World Pictures, Playtone, Pretty Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1