REVIEW: Newsies

By Bryan W.

In the month of October, Rasmussen’s class watched various movies relating to Journalism, one of which was Newsies. The movie, released in 1992, is based on the real-life strike of newsboys in New York, The film  follows Jack “Cowboy” Kelly (played by Christian Bale), a charismatic and clever newsboy, who leads the newsies of New York against the greedy Joseph Pulitzer. In my opinion, Newsies has a less than complicated  plot but what it lacks in story it makes up for in its ability to provoke emotions through its usage of choreography and music, creating a film you just can’t hate.

The first reason I think Newsies is great owes to its impressive usage of choreography. The varied and constant movement of characters within the film truly brings the theme to life, strongly demonstrating the meaning of the principle “show, don’t tell” allowing the audience to truly feel what the characters feels without words, which can be seen through one of the intro scenes of dozens of newsies getting up and ready in a way that silently tells the viewers that it’s their way of life. Through this masterful use of choreography the movie perfectly captures their unity and resilience, turning every dance, movement, and gesture into something that moves the audience.

Secondly, Newsies stands out with its diverse and catchy songs that can invoke different emotions in the listener. The movie makes great usage of music that on top of being pleasing to the ears is also appropriate for the the scene and the characters all without breaking immersion for the viewer and moving them. Whether it's through songs like “Santa Fe” that tugs at the audience’s heartstrings while displaying Jack’s yearning or “The World Will Know” which kindles a flame of rebellion so hot the viewer can almost feel it in their bones. 

Lastly, I love the film because of its historical connections to the real-life strike of the Newsboys in 1899,one of the earliest examples of child labor activism which contributed to awareness of the conditions children face and lead to the reform in labor later on. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the film’s main character is based on the real-life leader of the Newsies, Louis “Kid Blink” Baletti.  While the movie did take some creative liberties it stays true to the most important parts of the strike which were the themes of rebellion against social injustice and exploitation.

So far this review  has just been my opinion but let’s see what others have to say. Turning now to what professional critic had to say, here is what I found online. Based on what review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes says, Newsies holds a 39% approval rating amongst Critics but an 88% approval rating amongst casual viewers. Los Angeles critic, Christy Lemires, comments, “The songs are catchy, especially “Seize the Day,” but they ultimately reveal themselves as being thematically redundant.” Michael Wilmington of the National Society of Film Critics compliments Newsies and its ability to affect the viewer emotionally but notes that the film itself isn’t that great. He writes, “Certain movies engage your affections so strongly that, even if they start to fall apart, you tend to keep rooting for them. That's pretty much the case with Newsies.”

Overall, I give Newsies 7 out of 10 stars, and while I do love the film, I also acknowledge it also has its flaws. I recommend this movie for anyone studying American History, journalism, or choreography–its evocative movement and music make it an unforgettable experience, even if the film has a remarkable length. You can currently watch it on Fandango or Disney+.