Review of News of the World (2020) by Compi24 — 17 Jan 2021

Probably one of the bigger departures I've seen a filmmaker take from their typical stylings over the past few years, Paul Greengrass (who's typically known for his compelling forays into docudrama) reunites with his "Captain Phillips" star Tom Hanks for "News Of The World," a stately, earnest tale of tenderness in a coarse time and the importance of perspective and objectivity in even darker ones.

Its admittedly episodic and novelistic approach to delivering the narrative may prove tiring for some, but with cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and composer James Newton Howard operating at an admirable level of quality, I found even some of the film's more lackluster moments to be at the very least palatable on a superficial level.

When this movie is really firing on all cylinders, though, is when it's treating its subject matters with a very topically-minded outlook. Legitimately shocked this didn't bother me more, but these are easily the moments where the movie is shining at its brightest, with the subtle nods towards certain issues plaguing modern society ultimately satisfying this viewer.