by Nathaniel R
Suddenly we're feeling quite prophetic in expecting News of the World to receive a multitude of Oscar nominations. Universal has finally given us more than just a film still and the western drama looks exciting and robust. Check out the trailer and Yes No Maybe So after the jump...
Official synopsis:
Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe.
In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel, System Crasher), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will.
YES
• This looks like a great role for Tom Hanks, who is hopefully on an Oscar upswing again post Won't You Be My Neighbor?: paternal, determined, world weary, concerned. The scene by the campfire looks touching.
• Greengrass is a terrific director in terms of sustained tension and danger (United 93, Bourne Ultimatum, Captain Phillips) and William Goldenberg on editing has a similar gift (Insider, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty) which should help a lot with this dangerous journey narrative. That gift for held breath suspense is all over this promising trailer.
• Crafts are looking delicious. Costumes by Mark Bridges (yay), Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski (who inexplicably has never been Oscar-nominated), Production Design by David Crank (a favourite of Paul Thomas Anderson)
NO
• "Introducing... Helena Zengel" - hey no fair. She was already introduced in System Crasher, Germany's Oscar submission last year. She's already an awards nominated actress: European Film Awards Best Actress. We're kidding about this "no" of course. She'll be introduced to English language audiences here.
• This is more about the state of movie theaters right now but this looks like it needs/deserves a huge screen (heavy sigh). Would be a pity if this is watched on laptops from the looks of its expansive vistas and hopefully just as expansive emotions.
MAYBE SO
• What's the supporting cast like or is this just a two-hander? And if so might it be a bit monotonous? The only other character we really get a good look at is Ray McKinnon (fine actor) in sympathetic conversation with Hanks.
• How will this film handle the always touchy subject of racism and mistreatment of indigenous people since the character of Johanna has been raised among them after her family was killed?
What's your enthusiasm level after seeing this trailer?