Newsies Movie Review.

Title: Newsies.
Starring: Christian Bale {Jack Kelly}, David Moscow {David Jacobs}, Luke Edwards {Les Jacobs}, Ele Keats {Sarah Jacobs}, Gabriel Damon {Spot Conlon}, Marty Belafsky {Crutchy}, Bill Pullman {Bryan Denton}, Ann-Margaret {Medda Larkson}, Robert Duvall {Joesph Pulitzer}, Kevin Tighe {Snyder}.
Gene: Musical, Action/Adventure, Family.
Release Date: 1992.
Plot: The newspaper boys of 1899 are a ragged, unruly lot of orphans and poor kids with no leader. One day, as they set about their daily routine of selling papers, the owner of the paper, Joseph Pulitzer, discusses with his chief employees on the very important question of how to get more money. That evening, a solution is found, and the next day, the newsies are outraged when the price of the papers is increased by ten cents {which is a lot to them}.

Jack "Cowboy" Kelly is unanimously looked to as the leader of the boys, as they crowd around him, hoping for a way to deal with this latest problem. Inspired by the recent trolley strike and being naturally inclined to the wilder side of life, Jack promptly suggests the newsies form a union and go on strike. David, a new boy whom Jack has befriended, is opposed to this plan, but when he sees how for it everyone is, he becomes the brain behind the strike, and Jack becomes it's voice. Jack rallys the boys and David, then the group sets out to spread the word all over New York; when a key player, Spot Conlon of Brooklyn, doesn't throw his lot in at once, it's David's turn to rally the troops and his co-leader. The boys attract the attention of Denton, a reporter for a different newspaper, and he starts out to cover the story but ends up becoming one of the boys' few allies in their struggle against the powerful. The whole thing almost comes undone when Jack is arrested and threatened by the newspaper owner; when his friends are put in jeopardy because of his decision, Jack reverts to his true self and rescues them in fine style, and together, they come up with the final blow to the newspaper men that wins their battle.
Likes/Dislikes: The music and dancing are very well done and very moving, the villains are convincing and the heroes are noble, inspiring one to reach higher for what one believes in. About the only dislike I can mention is a kiss at the end of the movie which seemed a bit overdone, and some families might not like all the violence in the film; fist fights every which way, and boys being knocked out by the police in one scene. All ends well, however, and no one dies.
Rating: PG, and I completely agree with this rating.
Date Report Written: November 7th, 2010.