News of the World

 

 

The Book:

            Alright, I knew nothing of this book when I first picked it up. Turns out it’s a story about an older gentleman who earns his living in the old West in Texas by reading news, both local and international (when he can get papers) to towns for a small sum. Most people can’t read, and this is their only exposure to what’s going on in the world.

            As he travels, he meets two acquaintances who are transporting a young girl that had been taken by Indians back to her kinfolk in San Antonio. She was taken as a small girl and had spent a couple of years with the tribes and is somewhat feral and doesn’t speak English anymore. They convince the older gentleman to take charge of her and deliver her to her relatives as he travels south through Texas.

            The book follows his attempts at learning how to communicate with this young girl and the various encounters they have on the open road between towns.

            I really enjoyed this one because it was a good story about someone who had basically lived a solitary life being saddled with a young girl who didn’t want to return to civilization. They learn to trust one another and develop a kind of shorthand with one another.

            I hope the movie shows how they come to depend on one another and how difficult their relationship begins and then evolves.

 

The Movie:

            I was a bit skeptical when I heard that Tom Hanks was going to be cast as Captain Kidd because I pictured him as a crusty (but in a good way?) kind of old man. One who is set in his ways, but has a strong moral compass and duty to do and be good. Tom Hanks plays such lovable characters, and even though Captain Kidd is a good man, he’s not what I would consider lovable. He’s had a hard life and it’s made him hard.

            Turns out, it totally works. I apologize to Tom Hanks.

            I really liked this movie. It has such expansive scenery that it feels isolating and beautiful at the same time. It feels lawless and hard. Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel, making her American cinema debut, work so well together. She doesn’t talk much and still manages to emote with expressions and sullen looks. He plays Captain Kidd with resolve and a determination to be responsible for this girl who is suddenly placed in his path. They do change the manner in which he takes charge of her from the book, but it doesn’t affect the story.

            Definitely go see this movie. Very well done.

 

The Verdict:

            This is hard. I really liked the book and there are elements that of course the movie left out. They did drastically change the family of Captain Kidd and the ending isn’t the same, but the movie did such a great job telling the story. I loved the story-telling embellishments that were done in the movie that helped to generate a sense of importance to what Captain Kidd does for each town his visits and the news he shares. It is an odd job to have, but the way the movie portrays it gives it meaning and purpose that seems more understandable than the book.

            Can I say it’s a tie? No, probably not. But it’s close. The movie wins.