Earlier this month, George Clooney played an old man who treks across the frozen tundra with a little girl (my review of The Midnight Sky). Now we have another Hollywood stalwart (Tom Hanks) traversing the Wild West with a little girl. He plays a former Civil War captain who travels around Texas literally reading newspapers to the residents. On his journey, he encounters a 10-year-old who had been taken by the Kiowa people (Helena Zengel in a quietly powerful performance). He determines to get her back to her relatives and so begins their arduous passage deflecting challenges from human nature and plain ole nature. Hanks seems to be cherishing the opportunity to go for deep emotions, while maintaining a determined demeanor. One encounter gives director Paul Greengrass (best known for action films) to amp up the tension. But even with the moments of danger, the film never feels perilous. It’s a sedate, predictable Western that strives to make us care about this unlikely duo, but it’s trying too hard and the result is “meh.”
(3 / 5)