Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I remember watching this movie back in '92 when it first came out, and I loved it. Granted, I wasn't old enough to really pay attention to the actors or the quality of the acting, but if you love a movie, it's got to count for something, right? I don't know what possessed me to take a look at this movie again, but I just remembered that it had been forgotten along with so many other good movies, and I wanted to watch it again to really gauge its caliber. Was it lame, and was I too young to notice? I tend to do that a lot. I was curious to find out what it would look like the second time around, fifteen years later.

Plot: The year is 1899, and the news in the city of New York is driven by the "newsies," news boys that sell "paips" (newspapers) for two cents apiece. In order to sell the papers, however, the newsies have to pay a cent per "paip," so they either end up either pocketing their profits, or they have to pay the difference at the end of the day if they don’t sell all the papers. When bigwig newspaper owner Mr. Pulitzer decides to increase the amount charged to the newsies for papers, his demands are met with outrage. Even though child labor is now considered to be a heinous operation, it was still a normal part of life back then. As children were very poor and worked in meager conditions for extremely low wages, a price increase to distribute papers was the last straw and caused the newsies to go on strike.

The newsies needed a leader, however, and Jack Kelly stepped up and encouraged all the newsies in New York to join together in order to bring the charge for "paips" back down. Because child laborers weren’t entitled to a union, the only way their voices could be heard was if they literally stopped the presses and gained recognition in all of New York – from Manhattan to the Bronx to Brooklyn – in order to command the fair treatment and respect of all newsies.

Oh my goodness, I wasn’t disappointed. Like a fine wine, I think this flick got better with age. I kept laughing at the newsies' antics, and I kept ogling the screen going, "Wow, that actor’s in this?!" If you’re like me, you’ll think that totally phenomenal acting is hard to come by – especially nowadays, when Hollywood’s ideals and the FCC’s guidelines overrule true entertainment – but The Newsies has it all, especially bringing out that 1900’s flair. Almost all of the main actors look to be under the age of 16, with the few exceptional roles that are played by somewhat older people, and I was flabbergasted at how well they portrayed the news boys of New York City – they smoked, they used slang, they had that classic "wise guy" attitude, and they had that distinct New York City accent (where "heard" is "hoid" and "word" is "woid" ; albeit a little over the top, but who cares?). There was no candy-coated portrayal of the newsies, as they were rough-and-tough street rats back in the 1900’s that didn’t give a crap about the grown-ups but stuck together as brothers.

Except for when they’re singing and dancing.

Okay, yeah, it’s a musical. Okay, yeah, it’s a Disney movie, but you’ve got to admit – that was back in the days when Disney was cool. I can guarantee you that you won’t ever see another Disney flick that has the same attitude as The Newsies, because nowadays I’m sure youngsters smoking cigars or saying the word "cootchie" on camera will never reach the light of day. This film is full of smart remarks, drama, singing and dancing, and good acting.

The main character, Jack Kelly, is played by Christian Bale. Yeah, I didn’t believe it, either. He sings, he dances, and he plays the tough New-Yorker orphan leader of the newsies. This, in a way, is a con more than a pro...least to me it is. I mean, Christian Bale? Batman is a singing, dancing newsie? Naw. It’s hard to believe the man playing Bruce Wayne was once hopping around on stage belting out music lyrics. But, I digress. He’s actually a really good actor, and not a bad singer. And he’s hot. He looks exactly the same as he did fifteen years ago...except he put on a lot of muscle and got a deeper voice.

Mr. Pulitzer, played by Robert Duvall (*gasp* Robert Duvall is in this? I know!!!), is the relentless newspaper boss that won't back down to the newsies' demands. Unfortunately, Robert Duvall doesn’t sing or dance. Dang. Because no other newspaper will print the newsies' dilemma, a lone reporter named Mr. Denton (played by Bill Pullman) steps up to cover their story. Bill Pullman in a musical? It's true. Awkward, but true. He doesn't do a bad job, either. The rest of the newsies – "Racetrack" Higgins, a Manhattan newsie and 100% wise guy, is played by Max Casella (perfect New Yorker – you might recognize him in The Sopranos), "Spot" Conlon, the leader of the Brooklyn newsies, is played wonderfully by Gabriel Damon, and "Davey" Jacobs, played by David Moscow – are what complete the story and give the movie heart. The entire newsie cast did an exceptional job and brought the 1900’s of New York to life.

Overall: I love this movie. It's a good, wholesome family movie that has all the old-fashioned odds and ends to it that we never see anymore – singing, dancing, smart-aleck kids, and it's got a bit of history to it as well. There were moments in the movie that made me laugh, and even some moments when I pumped my fist and cheered for the scrappy New Yorkers. Give it a try!

This review was brought to you by CaptainD's Good Movie Write-Off!


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12