**THE UGLY: ‘NEWS OF THE WORLD’**

WRITING: 50
ACTING: 85
LOOK: 85
SOUND: 75
FEEL: 65
NOVELTY: 25
ENJOYMENT: 60
RE-WATCHABILITY: 55
INTRIGUE: 60
EXPECTATIONS: 55

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**THE GOOD:**

News of the World gives a lot of space to the political tensions of the post Civil War-era US, drawing similarities with the growing tensions of modern-day USA. It’s this political landscape that partly carries the film forward.

Tom Hanks is well suited for a calm, slightly colourless post Civil War-era captain. He’s not the most memorablöe Western character to appear on the silver screen, but he’s extremely likeable.

From a sociological point of view, it is most interesting to follow the scenes where the Captain’s worldview clashes with Johanna’s.

News of the World openly embraces the elements that make a good Western, such as horseback riding, gunslinging and travels across perilous wild landscapes.

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**THE BAD:**

While all the elements of a good western are present, the way the pieces have been put together isn’t particularly interesting or innovative. News of the World centres around similar things as many earlier movies and does not attempt to explore the era or the character from new angles.

Plot-wise as well as emotionally, News of the World remains fairly safe and shallow and doesn’t leave lasting impressions.

The political intrigue feels nothing more like an initial backdrop, having less and less impact on the story as a whole as the film progresses.

Other than the heartwarming relationship between Kidd and Johanna, which only evolves and grows over time, this film has pretty little to offer to justify its existence.

My biggest problem is that the film just floats around, with very little to say. It looks fine, the performances are good and there are several fine moments between the lead actors, but it just doesn’t achieve enough to stand out among the plethora of better Westerns that exist out there.

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**THE UGLY:**

Also known as True Grit: Family Edition.

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**VERDICT:**

_A well-oiled but disappointingly generic Western largely works thanks to its leading actors but doesn’t leave any lasting impressions._

**62% = :heavy_minus_sign: = UGLY**