News of the World (Netflix) Movie Review & Comments

[Tom Davies]

Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies adapt the Paulette Jiles book for the screen in a near perfectly crafted Western.
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[Ste7en]

I can't wait for this!

 

[agmpav]

Me neither. Western addict here, love the genre like no other no matter how tired/cliched it might sometimes get. The fact it's still attracting names like Hanks is great for me.

 

[richp007]

Always fancied this to be honest, looking forward to it.

Vibes of Hanks in Road to Perdition. Which is still my favourite of Hanks' offerings.

 

[VGzilla]

A gorgeous episodic western with a mute girl. But just one mute girl, not two. And without three brutal hangings, two women's tongues cut out, a baby with a crushed head, animal and human character alike put down with an antique bolt gun, multiple throat and face slashings, women forced to wear face cages, a child graphically bushwacked, and a dumbstruck dad eviscerated and left to die tied up in his own entrails, with plot nods to Chinatown and Sommersby, it's no Brimstone.

 

[Tom Davies]

it's no Brimstone.

I think one Brimstone is more than enough.

 

[Nayfne]

On it

 

[Donnacha]

Thanks for the review - love the western genre, so very much looking forward to this. Tombstone, Open Range, Unforgiven etc. its a great genre.

If ever I had the chance to be an actor (and I'm not) I'd like to star in a western !

 

[symphara]

I tried, managed almost one hour. It’s really boring. And I love Westerns. But Unforgiven, this ain’t it.

 

[barnaby jones]

Weekend viewing for sure !

 

[invisiblekid]

I tried, managed almost one hour. It’s really boring. And I love Westerns. But Unforgiven, this ain’t it.

I had that feeling of this from the trailer. Kinda looked, but it never showed where I thought it might be going

Always fancied this to be honest, looking forward to it.

Vibes of Hanks in Road to Perdition. Which is still my favourite of Hanks' offerings.

I thought the trailer showed hints of a western version of Perdition, but ultimately it appears it's not. Or at least a more boring version of it.

However, it's Hanks so it's going to at least be given a shot.

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

I really enjoyed this. No it’s not a fast shoot em up but a good way to spend time. Hanks great as usual, except Castaway, that’s awful, beyond awful, I confess that film is probably one of my worst ever!

 

[Slinkywizard]

Sounds good. I like Hanks, but find most of his films a bit whimsical for my taste and/or military worshipping. This seems like a bit of a change of pace, so will give it a go.

 

[Tom Davies]

Sounds good. I like Hanks, but find most of his films a bit whimsical for my taste and/or military worshipping. This seems like a bit of a change of pace, so will give it a go.

Definitely no whimsey but there's not ZERO military love, if you find that off-putting - the typical "war makes people grim and unfeeling" is swapped for "war makes people grim and unfeeling...unless you're Tom Hanks and then war makes you an upright citizen with a strong moral compass." But generally there's no eulogising about which side was 'right' in the civil war (hint: it was the Union) and there are THE VAGUEST of mentions about Hanks having demons in his past. I struggled while I was watching as to whether that was a criticism of the movie or not, the fact that it's mostly all backdrop and context to what's basically a father/daughter bonding movie, and I fell down on the side of "it sort of is a criticism but not one that is a big deal in this specific instance."

 

[james03]

Top review, I enjoyed the movie enough to watch it a second time. It’s chock full of beautiful scenes and drama, not so much action.
I did like Cas though think that the Kiowa would make an appearance and I spent the entire movie just waiting for it. There’s a scene when they’re together and he’s speaking Kiowa, well learning it and I thought it was nailed on for them to make a show.

 

[lucasisking]

I thought this was very perfunctory. The 'world-weary older man reluctantly escorts troubled young girl across country and they bond' trope is bordering on cliche at this point. (why not a world weary older woman and young boy?) and I found it's character depictions a bit on the simplistic side. It was enjoyable though. I like Hanks, and the girl grew on me over time, much like she did on him. Gorgeous cinematography, but we've seen it all before. 6/10

 

[james03]

It’s a road movie I guess but it worked for me, still haven’t seen a western come close to Hostiles in the past ten years or so.

 

[lucasisking]

It’s a road movie I guess but it worked for me, still haven’t seen a western come close to Hostiles in the past ten years or so.

I was thinking about Hostiles as I watched. That was deeper and had greater nuance than this.

 

[james03]

I was thinking about Hostiles as I watched. That was deeper and had greater nuance than this.

Indeed, I was blown away when I watched it in the cinema and have seen it several times since, never bores me and it vaulted into my top 10 straight away.

 

[encaser]

More of a Sunday Matinee feel, to me, for this. It is baggy in places and so suiting that heavy roast after-meal feeling of; don't move too fast and let it slip on past to the less discerning lower reaches.

 

[zantarous]

Watched this last night and thought it was an absolute cracker. Not sure I agree it was slow, I am the king of losing interest in a slow movie but this had me on the edge of my seat thinking just what was going to go wrong next.

Hanks was great as always but I really think that his co-star absolutely held her own and gave a such a great performance that sets the bar really high for what is expected from a child actor.

I loved taking in the scenery, I loved seeing the different towns and way of living, the ending was a bit Hollywood but honestly I am okay with that. 4/5.

 

[domtheone]

I thought this was very perfunctory. The 'world-weary older man reluctantly escorts troubled young girl across country and they bond' trope is bordering on cliche at this point. (why not a world weary older woman and young boy?) and I found it's character depictions a bit on the simplistic side. It was enjoyable though. I like Hanks, and the girl grew on me over time, much like she did on him. Gorgeous cinematography, but we've seen it all before. 6/10

Perfect summary. Saves me writing anything lol. 6/10 score spot on (imo).

 

[keithwiggins]

Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies adapt the Paulette Jiles book for the screen in a near perfectly crafted Western.
Read the review.

Write your own review for News of the World

Hate westerns but will watch this as i am a tom hanks fan, i have read a review in the indpendant that really just moans about the missed opportunity morality wise, re indigenous peoples, doesnt actually tell you if the film is worth watching of course to busy harping about white mans burden, jesus am i sick of all this! None of it was anything to do with anybody alive so lets get on with it.

 

[Tom Davies]

Hate westerns but will watch this as i am a tom hanks fan

I think if you really dislike Westerns, Tom Hanks sure isn't going to change your mind in this movie.
As people have noted in both praise and criticism - for the most part, this is a VERY typical Western.

i have read a review in the indpendant that really just moans about the missed opportunity morality wise, re indigenous peoples

I mean... for the sake of my conscience I have to hold up my hands and say I did this too.

...and now everyone is going to think I crib from the Independent to tow the lefty liberal SJW line, when really I can tow the lefty liberal SJW line all by myself!

 

[Coulson]

A gorgeous episodic western with a mute girl. But just one mute girl, not two. And without three brutal hangings, two women's tongues cut out, a baby with a crushed head, animal and human character alike put down with an antique bolt gun, multiple throat and face slashings, women forced to wear face cages, a child graphically bushwacked, and a dumbstruck dad eviscerated and left to die tied up in his own entrails, with plot nods to Chinatown and Sommersby, it's no Brimstone.

True. True.