News of the World

Who would you risk your life for?

This depiction of post-Civil War Texas is both gritty and ripe with conflicts still present for Texans. Tom Hanks and newcomer Helena Zengel are convincing as an unlikely pair stuck together, navigating the many kinds of danger. I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did and it made me want to watch more films by Paul Greengrass. It’s historical fiction and would be great for those who like Tom Hanks’ historical films (Saving Private Ryan or Captain Phillip--the latter also directed by Greengrass), or films like Cold Mountain.  The Blu-ray's bonus footage included an extra segment on the Kiowa Indians, Indigenous people who lived on the land before the war, that was wonderful. Based on a book by Paulette Jiles, this story is as human as they come.