So, as stated previously, News Of The World was really a mixed bag. There were some parts of it which were really good, and others which left me cold- usually when a modern day message was being crammed down my throat in a hamfisted manner. The performances of the central actors were great and elevated the material which they were given to work with. To sum up, I enjoyed watching this movie but feel no great need to revisit it any time soon.
As I mentioned in the first part of this review, News Of The World is quite episodic and while this didn't bother me, it would have been nice if all these little episodes had tied into an over-arching plot. They don't particularly, though I guess you could say that the theme of this road trip movie is how to find your way home. This theme is handled a little heavy-handedly for my taste: at one point Johanna says, "To move forward, you must remember first." And near the end of the film, Jefferson Kidd literally returns to his former home and visits his wife's grave, then experiences a sudden epiphany that he and Johanna are meant to be family. As I said, a little too on the nose. Also, despite the title of the movie, Kidd's job as news reader actually affects the story very little. Most of the time, Jefferson could have been selling anvils for all the difference it would have made to the plot, such as it is. He doesn't even use his papers to teach Johanna to read, or expand her knowledge of the wider world as I kind of expected he would. And the only time his profession does influence the plot, it does so very clumsily. In one county, a local cattle baron- insert every cliche here... racist, tyrant, buffalo slaughterer, etc, etc- has seized control and keeps everyone in line through intimidation, violence, and "fake news" printed in a local paper which he subsidizes. Gee, I wonder what kind of parallels Paul Greengrass was trying to draw here. But then Jefferson's reading of the news causes the people to rebel against the baron and even inspires one impressionable fellow to fight for justice and freedom. Cue the eye rolling now. Speaking of cliches, let's talk about the depiction of Native Americans in the movie. Back in the day, natives were portrayed in a very stereotypical way in most western films. Well, their portrayal is just as cliched today- it's just taken a bit of a change in direction. The US soldiers in News Of The World are made out to be dismissive and uncaring- and vaguely sinister. Meanwhile, the Native Americans are invariably depicted as being kind of mystical and at one with nature. Twice in the movie, the Kiowa appear out of a storm (one rain, one dust), the second occasion materializing just in time to silently give Kidd and Johanna a horse, out of the goodness of their hearts, so they can continue their journey. And any violence done by them (ie. the killing of Johanna's parents and baby sister) is years in the past and kept tastefully offscreen. I have no problem with changing perspectives and points of view on the American Indian Wars, but it would be great if they could be portrayed as real people, not mystic peaceniks at one with nature. The cinematography is beautiful in this movie, perhaps not surprising since the scenery is amazing. And, while the scene I described above (cattle baron) didn't really work for me, there was one which absolutely did. During one part of the movie, three degenerate former Confederate soldiers offer Jefferson money for Johanna. Repulsed, he refuses it; they start trouble with him until they're detained by some Union soldiers. Later however, the three follow Kidd and Johanna out into the wilderness and attempt to attack when there's no one to help them. This scene is great for a variety of reasons: it's edge-of-your-seat tense and suspenseful, and it also shows Jefferson Kidd, the soft-spoken, weary newsreader in a different light: a competent war veteran who will not hesitate to kill to protect the young girl under his care. We also see Joanna differently; up until this point she's been very closed off, uncooperative and untrusting of Kidd- understandably so. But during this crisis, she thinks and acts quickly, helping Jefferson in every way possible. Their relationship takes a turn after this as Johanna realizes that she can trust Kidd, stranger though he is to her. Also, though the ending is, as mentioned, a bit cliched, it's heartfelt and moving and I liked it despite recognizing its flaws. So, as stated previously, News Of The World was really a mixed bag. There were some parts of it which were really good, and others which left me cold- usually when a modern day message was being crammed down my throat in a hamfisted manner. The performances of the central actors were great and elevated the material which they were given to work with. To sum up, I enjoyed watching this movie but feel no great need to revisit it any time soon.
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