Bridge of Spies (2015)

During the Cold War, an American lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested Soviet spy in court, and then help the CIA facilitate an exchange of the spy for the Soviet captured American U2 spy plane pilot, Francis Gary Powers.

Sam’s Review

It’s remarkably clever the way Mark Rylance, playing Rudolf Abel, commits espionage. Subtle but devious. However, the slow burn does itch slightly. Eager to get into the action, I’d have happily skipped the first 15 minutes. And, you wouldn’t miss anything, as all the information is regurgitated.  Tom Hanks’ demeanour is such that I wonder if he’s truly a great actor. Obviously he’s a star, and has some level of acting ability. Yet, it’s his automatic likability that strikes me. His presence is such that you can’t help but trust him. As I watch him, I wonder if that limits his acting, as his presence dominates the characters he portrays. No matter who he plays, there’s always an element of sameness to it all.  Switching between Hanks’ legal drama and the story of the pilots is perfectly timed. They complement each other well, instead of interrupting. However, once the negotiations begin to take place, my interest wavers. Though the story is captivating, and it’s impressive how little action is required, I felt that the truly riveting part, Abel’s trial, is rushed. Perhaps it is understandable given the scope of everything. Yet, I’d have liked to have seen a more thrilling version of the court room, and all the antics behind it. Shoehorning in the negotiation would have brought a good ending to a thrilling film. Instead, Mark Rylance goes missing, making me wonder how he won the Oscar. His performance was undeniably good, but it felt as if he was on screen for 30 minutes out of two hours.  I can only applaud the way Donovan (Tom Hanks), and Spielberg in his direction of the film, portrays Abel, an enemy spy, as simply a human doing what they believe is right. Though they are on opposite sides, he is treated with respect. Watching through the lens of ‘cancel culture’, where even simple mistakes are no longer tolerated, it was refreshing to see the humanity.  The film highlights the sheer and vast awfulness of government agencies. They grasp at power through fear and force, and are a stain on humanity. (Can’t we all just get along?!) But I appreciate the fact that they’re depicted this way, as it’s not only accurate, but gives the story a little extra depth. The lines of good and bad are blurred, and we only have the reassuring presence of Hanks to help us navigate it. A moment between Donovan and Abel’s supposed relations perfectly embodies this.  Overall, it’s a good film that’s almost great. Hanks’ steady hands stop the film from getting boring, but the runtime certainly could have been cut down.

7.5/10