News of the World 2020
News of the World got kind of lost during Covid and an end of the year rush of Oscar contenders. The movie earned a few Oscar nominations in more technical categories, but came up empty. It is a pretty movie to watch, filmed entirely on location in the American southwest and mostly about Tom Hanks’ character transporting a young girl raised by Indians back to her closest remaining kin. Hanks is excellent in a quiet and serious role and the young actress is very good in a mostly non-speaking role since she doesn’t speak English. The problem is there isn’t much of a plot. There are a series of big things that happen, but mostly unrelated and just kind of random. The movie paints a bleak picture of Texas after the Civil War with all kinds of things that can kill you. I wish there had been a little more meat on the bones of this movie, but it feels a little clunky and empty when it comes to the story.
Written: 27 Apr 2021
Owned on: Digital