Bridge of Spies Review

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda

Two-time Oscar winner Steven Spielberg (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan), directs two-time Oscar winner  Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) in a historical drama written by two-time Academy Award winners Joel & Ethan Coen (Fargo, No Country for Old Men). Is there any possibility of that being the setup for a bad, or even mediocre movie? Bridge of Spies certainly has the talent behind it, and everyone succeeds. The untold true story of Rudolf Abel (Rylance) is a fantastic one, and one that desperately needs to be recognized. Rudolf Abel was the name of a Russian spy seized from his home in New York. The whole country wanted to see him burn in hell, as these events took place at the height of the Red Scare and Cold War. An insurance lawyer, James Donavan (Hanks) was assigned his case. Donovan faced the hatred of his peers and the entire country to give this man the fair trial that every man deserves. In his pursuit of justice for Abel, he discovers the bigotry of America, and ends up learning more from this supposed "monster" than he thought possible. Bridge of Spies is a slow burn, but the story is one that is very important.

The best thing about this movie is undoubtedly its acting. Tom Hanks gives his usual, which is a fantastically layered performance. Hanks proves that he can do just about anything, and cements a place in my book as one of the greatest actors not just of his time, but of all time. The greatness of his acting really shines in his ability to give a scene to Mark Rylance, who plays the spy in question. Rylance is an older actor who's spent most of his career in theater, so he's a new face to most viewers. Yet he appears to steal every scene from Hanks, or is it that Hanks is giving them to him? I'll be surprised come February if Rylance doesn't win Best Supporting Actor. His performance is so nuanced. He says very little, but whenever he does, it suddenly grabs your attention, and pulls at your emotions. A fantastic screenplay by the Coen brothers really drives home Spielberg's message.

This is a shorter review, because I know people who like this type of movie will see it or have seen it, and that it's hard to convince others. If you're looking for a spy movie, this is not James Bond. This is the real deal. If you enjoy historical dramas, this is deeply rooted in fact. Also, I was surprised at how much Bridge of Spies delves into German history with the Berlin Wall construction, as well as a lot about nationalism and what makes us all Americans. The one flaw of Bridge of Spies is its terribly slow pacing. While it's not one of Spielberg's best movies, there's no doubt it's a great movie.

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