PIC of the Week – News of the World
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment unveils one of the ten best pictures of last year, News of the World, an absolutely gorgeous lyrical tome to a changing west, an adventurous and dangerous road trip by horse and foot, and the discovery of where one should hang their hat. Writer/director Paul Greengrass and his co-writer Luke Davies capture the heart and soul of the Paulette Jiles novel while Tom Hanks and co-star Helena Zengel win us over with their realistic portrayals of a side of pioneers we’ve rarely seen.
Greengrass and Davies give us a very different character with Tom Hanks’ Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd. A former preacher turned newspaper man and former captain of the Southern army (after a miserable loss), Captain Kidd has dedicated his life for the last four years to traveling the states reading the news to townsfolk. He could easily be the first news anchor to emerge from the west. But, the job is not a rich man’s way. This does not seem to matter to him, because he takes great joy in informing the public, watching how he affects the lives of others and, due to his dedication, he has regrettably left his wife at home.
During his travels, Captain Kidd happens upon a downed wagon, the driver hung from a tree and a young girl left behind. This is no ordinary child. The girl has been raised by the Kiowa tribe for the past six years and knows little else. Her driver was originally taking her to her nearest kin.
After a series of mishaps, Captain Kidd finds himself the responsible party to get the girl back to her Aunt and Uncle. The journey will be fraught with hardship and danger as he travels from town to town reading the news with the child, on the way to his destination. This is not easy for him because he never had any use for children, which makes their travels twice as hard at first. But, as time goes on, the two form an unusual bond and learn how to communicate with one another.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment delivers a stellar 2160p presentation. From the rich luster of the prairies to the rustic towns of yesteryear, practically every frame is beautifully rendered. Low light scenes are reminiscent of another very different western now considered a classic, McCabe & Mrs. Miller. The picture is definitely reference quality, and even the Blu shines on this one thanks to David Crank’s magnificent production design and Dariusz Wolski’s sumptuous cinematography, both nominated for Academy Awards.
The Dolby Atmos makes full use of the sound design and music provided (also nominated for Oscars). The sound effects surround you with the authentic sounds of the west. From the diverse crowds that Captain Kidd addresses to the gunshots and horses galloping the terrain, you can’t help but be carried away by the richness of it all.
Now, with all this going on you would think the big U would put a bit more effort into the bonuses. Nope, once again the studio cheaps out and provides a scant 42 minutes of supplemental material to a feature that deserves far more. Hell, the talents of Paul Greengrass and what he has delivered receives only 11 minutes worth of attention.
Be that as it may, News of the World is well worth owning. The film is filled with excitement, passion and hope. It is not a conventional run-of-the-mill shoot’em up western. Paul Greengrass’ movie can stand with such quieter thought provokers such as A Man Called Horse and Unforgiven. It’s a splendid piece of moviemaking with unforgettable performances.
Lowest Price – $27.96 (4K) – Amazon, $22.96 (Blu) Amazon and Walmart
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