After a spectacularly rough week (don’t ask), Bruce and I decided to have a date night, which in pandemic world meant he’d bring home take out after work. (Our two favorite places for special occasions are HAMILTON’S and ORZO.) However, Bruce wound up stuck in the clinic. By the time he got out, it was too late and raining. Instead of a take-out, we did what we haven’t ever done yet, pay $19.99 to stream a new release.

We watched the Tom Hanks movie, NEWS OF THE WORLD. He plays Captain Kidd, a former Civil War soldier who lost everything  back in Texas during the four years he was off fighting. At the opening of the movie, his job is to travel from one western outpost to another, reading the news to rowdy crowds. These folks were as likely to listen to him as to rise up and murder him on the spot, decidedly ignoring the dictum, “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

I won’t include any spoilers in this review. At the start of the film, Captain Kidd finds an orphaned child on the trail. He attempts to deliver Johanna to authorities, but they rebuff him, so he decides to bring her to an aunt. He winds up on treacherous 400-mile journey through punishing terrain, marauding outlaws, lunatic despots, disgruntled ex-Confederate soldiers and understandably angry Native Americans. Our nascent country is in a violent, divisive mess, not unlike where we find ourselves today. At one point, Captain Kidd says that all he wants to do is find a safe, happy place for Johanna and presumably himself. Wouldn’t we all, Captain Kidd, wouldn’t we all?

The cinematography is gorgeous, a visual treat in almost every scene. The background music is beautiful, but it’s the acting that carries this movie. Tom Hanks gives a splendid portrayal of Captain Kidd, understated yet powerful, as the man struggles with his past failures and present challenges. The character moves and speaks in a deliberate way, his strong moral compass guiding each of his steps. The man has his demons, has made mistakes, so this is not a facile process. Helena Zengel, a 12-year-old German actress gives a mesmerizing performance. Mostly wordless throughout the film, her nuanced facial expressions and body language speak volumes.

Some viewers may be frustrated that the movie does not come out strongly re: various issues. Rather than preach, the film portrays one man’s existence in a chaotic situation.

Despite all the dangerous encounters, the plot seems a bit plodding. I didn’t mind because of the great acting and lovely scenery. The climax of the movie contains a deus ex machina moment, which made no sense. It seemed like a lazy way to write your characters out of impossible situation, but I guess that’s exactly why Greeks created the handy literary device.

Scene by scene, Captain Kidd’s overriding motive is to do the right thing, regardless of cost. Somehow, his choices felt deeply reassuring. I loved the ending, redemptive on many levels, but not sentimental. Bottom line: this movie is well worth the $19.99 we spent on it.