Review : Bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies (2015) 

2h 22m Runtime

IMDB(7.6/136k) 

RT (92% Fresh)

Director : Steven Spielberg

Writers: Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Cast: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Jesse Plemons

Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies is a cold-war era thriller about a lawyer drawn into an unfamiliar world filled with media speculation, fear, and espionage. I was prepared for a very slow paced drama, but was pleasantly surprised after seeing the film. 

 

Spielberg directs this film to really embrace the tension of the era. You can feel it churning underneath the surface in any of the three different countries included in this story. American children watching a public service announcement about the possibilities of nuclear attack, the all out frenzy by both sides when spies are discovered, and the general level of mistrust at all levels bring this film into a world of tangible tension. Everyone was trying to avoid a new, more terrible war, but posturing none the less. Spielberg really brings all these pieces in to make a great film. His direction as always is filled with intriguing and beautiful imagery and this is no exception. He finds great uses of light and color and the film just generally has a beautiful look.

The story was written by an up and coming writer who has worked on numerous BBC dramas named Matt Charman and the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski).  The screenplay is tight and well-paced. The characters become distinctive in their behaviors and their conversations seem natural and heartfelt. There is a good mixture of tension and cultural observations within to make the screenplay overall very rewarding.

Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance were terrific. Tom Hanks is one of those actors for me, that for whatever reason, if he is in a film I will go see it. He is true to form and delivers a heartfelt performance with the charisma he brings with him.  Mark Rylance (The Other Boleyn Girl, Intimacy) won the Academy Award for Best Supporting actor with his fantastic performance in the film. You never really know where to place him, but you root for him none the less. He plays it with subtle charm, and he really was just a joy to watch. Any scene with him and Tom I was glued to the screen watching such great performers together. The supporting cast including Amy Ryan, Scott Shepherd, Mikhail Gorevoy, and Sebastian Koch also had great performances and only added to the film.

I think this film got lost in the madness of the year. With so many strong films this one just flew under the radar slightly, but it is a great film. It shows an interesting time in history filled with turmoil. I enjoyed it.

4/5

Keep an eye out for Mark Rylance in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming WWII film Dunkirk and Tom Hanks in A Hologram for the King. 

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