By Murtaza Ali Khan
Featured in IMDb Critic Reviews
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| Bridge of Spies (2015) - By Steven Spielberg |
Our Rating: 8.5
IMDb Ratings: 8.5
Genre: Biography | Drama | History
Cast: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda
Country: USA
Language: English
Runtime: 141 min
Color: Color
Summary: An American lawyer is recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union.
Bridge of
Spies
is the latest offering from the celebrated American filmmaker Steven Speilberg.
Written for the screen by Matt Charman, in collaboration with the Coen brothers,
Bridge of Spies presents the story
(inspired by true events) of one James B. Donovan—an American lawyer who is commissioned
by the CIA to rescue a US spy pilot, Francis Gary Powers, detained in the Soviet
Union during the Cold War. Donovan must travel behind the iron curtain to East
Germany and negotiate the terms of Powers’ release with both the KGB and the
Stasi. Bridge of Spies stars Tom
Hanks (as Donovan), Mark Rylance, and Amy Ryan in the major roles.
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| James B. Donovan gets questioned by the Stasi officers in East Berlin |
Made in the vein of old-fashioned espionage thrillers made
famous by the renowned British author John le Carré, Bridge of Spies is a kind of film that one generally doesn’t
associate with Steven Spielberg who is ubiquitously renowned for his dazzling
style of filmmaking that relies heavily on the use of CGI and VFX. But he has
this knack of coming up with films which are devoid of the typical Spielbergian
elements. Sometimes the surprise is pleasant and sometimes not so. Bridge of Spies is unlike anything Spielberg
has done in the recent years. In today’s age when we are so used to watching spy
films that are replete with nonsensical action, forced gimmicks, fake gadgets,
and flashy special effects, a piece of story-driven cinema like Bridge of Spies comes as a welcome
surprise. Also, to their credit, Spielberg and team don't concoct a regular le Carré. Undeniably, the product on offer is more in accordance with the American sense of valor and optimism than the British author's characteristic cynicism and futility.
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| Mark Rylance in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies |
While Spielberg may still be waiting for the elusive opportunity
to direct his first James Bond movie, here he demonstrates how capable he is of
cooking up a le Carré-esque espionage thriller that revolves around office intrigue
and old-school counter intelligence but lacks the charm, romanticism and
heroics that underline Ian Fleming's spy fiction. Bridge of Spies is largely plot driven with reasonable scope for
character development. Here Spielberg doesn't go for those big dramatic moments
that his films are known for but he handles the smaller ones with aplomb. There
isn’t an iota of sex and the little action that is on display only adds to the
movie’s realism. The East Germany scenes are beautifully crafted and succeed in
capturing the unsettling tension and paranoia prevalent at the height of the
Cold War. It can be attributed, among other things, to
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| A Still from Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies |
Overall, Bridge of Spies is a meticulously made spy thriller
that takes us back in time to one of the darkest phases in modern history. The
movie unites the actor-director duo of Hanks and Spielberg after a gap of 10
years. And it’s so heartening to once again see the both of them at the top of
their games. Bridge of Spies may not be their best work till date but it's nonetheless
quite solid. While Spielberg puts up a strong show on the filmmaking front, Hanks’
convincing performance adds a lot of value to the film. As a matter of fact,
just to watch Hanks go about his usual business in front of a motion-picture
camera is a treat in itself. Hanks’ character is not an intelligence officer like
George Smiley but is a lawyer who specializes in insurance and understands well
that often the art of salesmanship is all about bluffing. Hanks is well
supported by the rest of the cast which is led by the noted thespian Mark Rylance
who is superb in the role of a KGB spy. Although, there is never a dull moment
in the movie, it demands patience from its viewers. Bridge of Spies is a must watch for viewers who enjoy watching old-fashioned
spy thrillers, but those who lack patience are advised to approach it with
caution.
Readers, please feel free to share your views/opinions in the comment box below. As always your insightful comments are highly appreciated!
Note: A version of this review was re-published in the Huffington Post.
References:
Note: A version of this review was re-published in the Huffington Post.
References:
Bridge of Spies (2015) Trailer (YouTube)
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Agree almost on everything except the title of "le Carresque". Let me explain. Typically le Carre books and films are about severe moral ambiguity and wheels within wheels plots. Here the plot is rather straightforward . In fact me thinks the alternative title should have been 'Donovan's Deals" . Spying s relegated to background and its all about DOnovan
ReplyDeleteWell, I see where you are coming from. While I agree that le Carre's works are far more complex, I also feel that the outer texture of Bridge of Spies is more or less in sync with le Carre's motifs. The influence of the British author's works on Bridge of Spies just cannot be overlooked. You see there are two major schools of thought when it comes to spy fiction: Fleming's and le Carre's. Here, I don't really see much similarity to Fleming's style of spy fiction. Now, Bridge of Spies does deal with office intrigue and old-fashioned counter espionage and in my opinion its obvious comparison is with le Carre, whether you agree or not!
ReplyDelete