Some movies don’t get enough praise from viewers or fail to perform well at the box office during their theatrical performances. But their reputation augments over time. Disney’s Newsies is one of the best examples of this scenario. Despite being a financial failure and critical disappointment, the Christian Bale starrer has gained a significant cult following over the years.
Disney’s High School Musical fame, Kenny Ortega, made his feature directional debut with Newsies, released in 1992. The film loosely takes inspiration from the real-life newsboys’ strike of 1899. During that time, prominent newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer forced New York’s newspaper hawkers, also known as newsies, to purchase ‘New York World’ from his distribution centres at high prices. This scenario angers Jack Kelly (Bale) and the rest of his newsies gang. As a result, they decide to go on strike. But soon, they realise that uniting all the newsies is the least of their problems as they also have to tackle several real-world dilemmas.
Bale showcases sparks of his acting brilliance in this Ortega directional. And we should not expect too much cinematic luminosity from his helmed projects. They are not meant to be taken seriously. But they do provide a whole lot of entertainment to viewers.
Despite all of its inaccuracies or faults, Newsies surprisingly has a heart. And sometimes, this is enough for viewers. Additionally, Alan Menken delivers a memorable musical score in this one.
Apart from Christian Bale, Newsies consists of Bill Pullman, Ann-Margret, Robert Duvall, Max Casella, Ele Keats, and many more talented performers. The film is available on Disney+ Hotstar for Indian viewers. Watch it now!