MOVIE REVIEW: Bridge of Spies (2015)

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Biography, Drama, History

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

There is no arguing that Steven Spielberg has an affinity for the past, his past three outings as a director have been historical accounts and when you look back through his entire filmography you see it's a common theme in his work. Spielberg is possibly the greatest living filmmaker around and when he sets his sights on something from our history you know he's going to put his all into it. Such is the case with his latest film Bridge of Spies which see's the veteran director re-teaming with Tom Hanks for another look back in time. 

This time he's taking us into the thick of the Cold War and the age of espionage with the true life story of James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), a simple insurance lawyer who is called upon by his government to defend a suspected Russian spy. When Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) is arrested for suspicion of espionage Donovan is asked to defend the man and show our due process of law. Despite the entire country expecting a swift and merciless trial Donovan goes into like any other defense case, innocent until proven otherwise by a court of law. Because of this he saves the man's life from the death penalty, basing his argument on the fact that we may need to trade this man for one of our own in the future.

He is proven right when an American Spy gets shot down over Russia and is captured with a head full of American secrets. Now he is called upon again to risk his life and go into Berlin to negotiate the exchange of prisoners and in turn save countless American secrets. His plan is made more difficult however when an american student is arrested in East Berlin and is convicted of Espionage activities. Donovan's moral compass won't let him leave Germany without both Americans and he must now find a way to negotiate the release of both of their guys for just the one Russian. 

Spielberg has a knack for finding historical stories that embody an entire period of time within one person's experiences. He's done it with films like Schindler's List and Lincoln and now he's done it again here, James Donovan's story manages to capture the entire atmosphere of the Cold War era and take us through what it did to lives on both sides. He also isn't afraid to show sympathy for the "enemy", which with time we have come to accept that the people fighting on both sides of a war are simply just people. The relationship between Donovan and Abel is the backbone of the film and represents the people fighting the battles of the big wigs upstairs.

Though we have seen him tackle history time and time again this film has a different side to it than we typically see in his movies, and I have to believe it's due to a script written by the Coen Brothers. The dialogue of this movie is at times obviously written by the Coens and their brand of dry humor can be seen throughout the film, which is what separates itself from Spielberg's other historical pictures. I found myself laughing much more than I'd have expected considering the subject matter and certain scenes, like the dinner table conversation early in the film, add something unexpected to the film.

Whenever Hanks and Spielberg team up magic happens, the two know how to work with each other so well and are able to bring the best out of each other. I expect Hanks to receive another best actor nom and Spielberg will most likely get a best director nom but the real standout of the film is Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel. His performance as the Russian spy is incredible, the guy is calculating and creepy, and has an odd sense of humor that make every scene he is in something special. Even though you know he is a spy you can't help but hope he makes it through to the end, and that's all due to his incredible performance. 

This film is a great reminder that even when Spielberg isn't making another masterpiece like E.T. or Jaws he is still making far better films than anyone else working today. Bridge of Spies may be in the lower half of his body of work but it is still a highly entertaining piece of historical drama that takes to a corner of our past that we often turn a blind eye to. We see the horrors of the Cold War in Eastern Berlin and how it all affected everyday life back in America and reminds us why both sides of this war were wrong. If you have an interest in history I cannot recommend this film enough, it is great drama and a wonderful education on one of the darkest times in our nation's past. Besides, who doesn't want to see another Spielberg/Hanks movie? 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!