Maxwell Alexander’s review published on Letterboxd:
It feels so much like a film that John Ford would've done years ago. The kind of western with sweeping vistas and a hero that is noble. Paul Greengrass is a strange choice to bring this story to life. His filmography doesn't necessarily point to anything tender or epic like "News of the World." He did the "Bourne" movies and likes tense action scenes while this needs heart. But some how he pulls it off. He makes a touching father/daughter movie with so many beautiful visuals. Although, when the story veers into action it is impeccably directed. A stand off on a mountain midway through the film puts most Superhero movies to shame.
The true center of this movie is not Paul Greengrass but it's stars Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. Hanks is warm and charming as Captain Kidd a man who reads the news. His voice which hasn't changed in 40 years is exquisite, he commands a room. He feels like a strong man who can hold his own on the frontier but would much rather avoid violence altogether. He still is America's dad. But it's his co-star Zengel who steals every scene. At 12 years old she is one of the most fearless actresses to grace the silver screen. She performs a range of emotions across 3 different languages and never misses a beat. It feels like she's acting circles around Hanks. I can't think of a child performance that has hit this hard in quite some time.
Every few years when Hollywood tries to reignite the western genre it often feels hit or miss. This is a hit thanks to strong direction and a great partnership between Hanks and Zengel.