News of the World

THE GIST: After the Civil War, Captain Kidd has carved out a living by traveling from town to town and reading the news to the often unlearned locals. One day, he stumbles upon a blonde little girl who seems lost and only speaks a local Native American language. Unable to find anyone willing to take her home, they embark on a long and perilous journey across the plains of Texas.

News of the World is a western style movie whose focus is really the developing relationship between Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel's characters. The two actors are both very good, and the latter even received a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination for her work.

The film also garnered four Academy Awards nominations, for Best Sound, Production Design, Cinematography, and Score (for James Newton Howard), and the entire technical apparatus is top-notch.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A nice, heartwarming tale that packs plenty of action and drama in a nice little package.

Grade: 7