WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Two names. Two LAST names. Spielberg and Hanks. It is amazing how much Hollywood weight is carried by just those two monikers. With collaborations including the WWII masterpiece “Saving Private Ryan” and the dramedy “The Terminal”, to the award-winning mini-series’ “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific”, these two icons of entertainment have had no slips in quality of what they involve themselves with together. And with Mr. Spielberg’s newest effort, “Bridge of Spies”, the streak goes on uninterrupted. It is 1957, during the Cold War, and suspected Soviet agent Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) has been taken in by the FBI on charges of espionage. Despite the times, the right of due process is recognized, and insurance lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) is chosen for the job.
Adding, however, to already tense proceedings infused with heavy scrutiny and hard ridicule for defending a Communist spy, Donovan unexpectedly finds himself drawn into an even deeper issue when a U.S. U-2 plane is shot down over Russia and its pilot, Francis G. Powers (Austin Stowell) captured. The CIA engages Donovan to travel to East Germany and act as a negotiator for a trade between the nations in order to get their man back in exchange for Abel. Complications continue to arise when an American student, Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers), inadvertently gets caught up in the chaos of the Berlin Wall being erected, and Donovan tries a two-for-one deal with both governments. And so in the midst of political strife, deal-breaking, and tensions between superpowers, an insurance lawyer from the U.S. fights the good fight in the face of international adversity.
Next, my Mind:
Aided as well by the solid writing efforts of Matt Charman plus Joel and Ethan Coen, “Bridge of Spies” propels the viewer through the multi-faceted landscapes of political maneuvering during the Cold War, which is then brought to even more dramatic life thanks to master director Spielberg, who has done more than his fair share of true story historical efforts. Beautifully filmed to accurately reflect the era, the movie transports us smoothly from the safe house Abel is ultimately captured in, to the war-ravaged city of Berlin as Germany is splitting in two, to the soaring heights of a suddenly perilous mission at 70,000 feet, all along thrusting the characters into the middle of it with grace and, albeit pressure-filled, ease. Combined with a gorgeous score by prolific composer Thomas Newman, it makes for a rich, drama-filled presentation.
Hanks once again proves that his expert ability to play an everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances and come out on top never runs dry nor does it become tiresome in any way to watch. His portrayal of the confident, cautious, and determined Donovan very much lends the film its power, given that accessible and sympathetic demeanor that Hanks brings to any role. You believe and relate to his characters. The supporting cast is also extremely well picked, especially Rylance, whose scenes with Hanks are both poignant and humor-filled, beyond the taut circumstances surrounding them. Now granted, this reviewer wasn’t necessarily as moved emotionally overall by this particular effort as with “Ryan”, nor would go as far to say this performance by Hanks was the same level as said film or, say, “Forrest Gump”.
But that is SO relative when you speak about talent at this level, and “Bridge of Spies” delivers a fantastically well-done dramatic story that gives a sobering glance into the world as it was during some edgier times among nations and illustrates that one man can make a difference.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
