Rog's Movie Viewpoint

Veteran Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks) is making a living traveling from town to town reading newspaper stories to paying crowds five years after the Civil War. Coming across 10-year-old Johanna (Helena Zengel), who had been captured and raised by a Kiowa tribe, Kidd agrees to return the reluctant girl to her biological aunt and uncle. As they traverse hundreds of miles through rugged territory, the unlikely pair begins to bond while facing many dangers. This enthralling adventure is easily one of the year's best films. A great new oater in the tradition of John Ford's "The Searchers", there's enough action to please fans of the genre. Paul Greengrass, who helmed Tom Hanks' "Captain Phillips", directs this epic based on the novel of the same name by Paulette Jiles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Luke Davies. Dealing with loss and redemption, the film focuses almost entirely on Kidd and Johanna. Strong lead performances were needed to s