News of the World.

That shootout was rad.

I gotta say, this felt like the closest thing to an Anthony Mann movie made in the new millennium that we've ever had. Put a black-and-white filter on this movie and you could think it was a lost Jimmy Stewart Western.

It would've been more interesting if it was completely from Johanna's pov, and we got some scenes before her meeting up with Kidd.

Hell of a solid western road movie. Enjoyed it quite a bit. I like its steady pace, its warm character moments and its feeling of the surroundings on the screen. Hanks gives another completely wonderful performance sure to be overlooked by, well, every awards group. Not many think of him in those terms but to me he's a master of subtle dramatic acting - I've always enjoyed how unexpectedly subdued his on-screen emotions and reactions usually are, and this movie is another example of him doing wonderful work which looks effortless and brims with life and honesty.

Somehow Greengrass found better use for Dariusz Wolski than Ridley Scott's been doing in all of his latest movies. I wasn't a fan of how the trailers looked visually but in the context of the film I found the photography to be quite terrific for the most part. I kind of loved how the indoor scenes looked, really giving you a feeling of the atmosphere of those dim rooms. Loved that detail with Hanks always having to kneel down to his papers to even see what the heck is written on them because of the lack of light.

Not a perfect or astonishing film by any means (and I was really bothered by that CG boulder tbh) but strong one for sure.

Which ones?

I would be truly shocked if Reznor/Ross don't win Score, and despite peoples complaints about it, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Tenet takes Sound. Depending on how Sound of Metal performs overall, I could maybe see that taking Sound instead.

so, one of my criticisms of the book was that it felt too slight and that the relationship between Captain Kidd and Johanna was underbaked. Those issues are multiplied in the film which despite a 2-hour length feels incredibly inconsequential (worth noting that the audiobook was only like 5 hours so it's not like this is a long book to adapt). The film is essentially a road movie, following the book's structure, but I could count on one hand the main events featured in the plot whereas in the book it'd probably take two hands. There's the standoff with the trafficking bandits, the riot in that backwater town, and like... a sandstorm, and for the amount of time a couple of them take up, not much of that time is devoted to developing the core relationship and getting it to where it needs to be for the emotional payoff at the end. Part of this is due to the language barrier between the captain and Johanna which is pulled directly from the novel. It's hard to develop a meaningful narrative relationship (especially on film with time constraints) when you have to waste minutes having them teach each other words like "good" and "bird." But the lack of plot doesn't help either. There's so little than happens in this film.

I'll say this too: despite the book's flaws
Zengel is quite good (not Systemcrasher-good, but good), and Hanks is ok but doesn't tap into the character's inner life nearly enough. He's restrained to a fault. There's practically no intensity. The cinematography is pretty but more evidence that Delbonnel's cinematography for Buster Scruggs really was exceptional because not all films that take place in these landscapes, including this one, look *that* good. The costumes by Mark Bridges are fine. Pretty basic rustic Western costumes, and not many of them because a lot of the runtime is just two people in a wagon. David Crank's boilerplate production design is unexciting for the same reason.

I stopped watching around 30 minutes in (just didn't care for it) but remember a fair amount of shaky-cam

6.5+ close to 7/10

This film works almost entirely within what it's trying to do - looks beautiful and sustains until the ending - it's comfortable and amiable in the best sense. Would I watch it again - nah, but I certainly didn't mind seeing it once.

I sometimes make fun of Tom Hanks for being too wholesome - but that says more about me than it does him. His ability to inhabit good, decent, honorable men and find some distinct wrinkle or nuance is nearly unparalleled in film history - like Jimmy Stewart and ......who else?

That's not something to disregard ....it's quite skillful......and rare.......and taken for granted.

The movie is obviously pretty mediocre, but what disappointment me most is that on paper, the role teased a bit more edge and darkness that what we’re used to seeing from Hanks. But he plays it exactly as one would expect. Zengel is actually the highlight of the film and nothing except for the shootout about midway was of interest to me. Nice cinematography, though.

A beautiful and touching road film. Refreshing to see a Paul Greengrass with very little shaky cam. If my memory serves right i think is the first western for Tom Hanks and he did a pretty good job even though doesn't look like the typical western hero. Helena Zengel is what keeps this film away from the usual fare. A tad familiar here and there totally a worthy trip- 7.5/10

A few snoozefest stretches, but mostly pretty wonderful. Impossible not to like Hanks here, and Zengel was just as good. Mostly restrained direction from Paulie G, but still a few knockout sequences (the dust storm especially). Also very much elevated by the cinematography and the score.

The two lead characters definitely could've used some more depth... but at the same time, they didn't really need it. My main problem was that CGI boulder.