News of the World

Depicting a period of postwar volatility and distrust among Southerners uncertain about a new normal, News of the World perhaps sounds more timely than it really is.

This evocative 19th century story of acceptance and sacrifice on the American frontier tends to muddle its sociopolitical context to set up convenient emotional payoffs. Yet overall, it emerges as a stirring change of pace for both star Tom Hanks and British filmmaker Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips).

Plus, it carries a message about the captivating power of journalism and storytelling that resonates today more than ever.

The story is set about five years after the Civil War, when Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Hanks) has made a career of traveling between towns and reading newspapers to the locals with a hint of showmanship and empathy to justify the modest admission price.

While traveling in northern Texas, he encounters Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old orphaned immigrant who apparently was raised by the Kiowa tribe in Oklahoma, and has papers detailing her intended voyage — from which she’s escaped — to stay with biological family near San Antonio.

The Captain shields the girl from authorities and decides to fulfill the mission himself, despite Johanna’s recalcitrant antics. At first, his motives remain cloudy. When asked for the first time why he’s doing it, the Captain just stares into space as if wondering himself. Later, we learn about the redemption and closure he’s seeking in his own life.

During their perilous journey, the duo encounters a one-dimensional parade of intolerant xenophobes and dimwitted bandits, along with hazards such as rickety stagecoaches and unpredictable Texas weather.

Hanks offers a richly textured performance that garners sympathy as his character navigates surrogate parental responsibilities amid the inherent dangers of the Wild West. Meanwhile, a wonderfully expressive portrayal by German actress Zengel relies heavily on facial expressions and body language as a fragile and frightened youngster who’s also headstrong and resourceful.

The screenplay by Greengrass and Paul Davies (Lion), adapted from a novel by Paulette Jiles, manages some character-driven poignancy as secrets are revealed, even if it settles into a mostly conventional heroes-and-outlaws narrative framework.

Scaling back his usual emphasis on hand-held cameras, Greengrass adopts a more traditional visual approach here that contributes to the film’s occasional lack of dramatic urgency. But the on-screen chemistry between its performers ensures that News of the World earns its headlines.

Rated PG-13, 118 minutes.