Movie Review: Bridge of Spies (+trailer)

Scott Shepherd and Tom Hanks in Bridge of Spies.

Tom Hanks does a superb job of acting in a movie heavily reliant on the craft, like many films with simple but powerful storylines.

Bridge of Spies is inspired by true events from the Cold War -- when Americans were all too keen to wash their hands of anyone who threatened to be less than 100 per cent patriotic, and when the Berlin Wall was built.

Hanks plays James Donovan, a Boston insurance lawyer dumped with defending suspected Russian spy Rudolph Abel (Mark Rylance), in order to give the appearance that Abel was offered a fair defence.

What the partners of his firm had not counted on was Donovan's level of integrity and commitment to honouring the code of doing your best to defend your client, regardless of who they are.

The results of Donovan's actions impact his own personal and professional life and before long he is recruited by the CIA to negotiate a prisoner exchange after an American fighter pilot is captured behind enemy lines.

What should be a straightforward, clean swap becomes anything but, however Donovan's talent for argument becomes pivotal.

Bridge of Spies is an engrossing tale of honesty and integrity. It also illustrates how precarious the time was and how close America and the Soviet Union came to all out war - with Donovan at the centre of it.

It is subtly told with impressive attention to detail, making the movie easy to watch and follow.

There are some intense moments but mostly the film takes its time to set the picture before getting to the point -- which is not necessarily a bad thing.

I'd recommend Bridge of Spies to anyone who remembers the Cold War, or anyone else who's a fan of Spielberg's storytelling talent.

While the movie is light on the typical Hollywood template of action, romance, and cheesy one-liners, it is rich in heart.

There is some kind of innocence about this film, and it makes for a nice, touching change.

Bridge of Spies
Directed by: Stephen Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda
Running time: 2 hrs 21 mins
Rating: 3/5