The Cold War was a truly unique, interesting and scary time when the whole world felt upside down – how else can you describe a worldwide conflict where tensions could not be higher yet bullets and bombs were not being fired. Paranoia, fear and propaganda ruled the day as two very different ideologies, brought forth by two powerhouse nations, fought for the hearts and minds of the world’s populace. It is in this intense setting that Steven Spielberg re-teams with Tom Hanks to make the harrowing, fish-out-of-water story Bridge of Spies.
Hanks stars as insurance lawyer James B. Donovan, a big-hearted and idealistic family man who is thrust into a negative national spotlight as he is convinced to defend a Soviet spy named Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance). Though Donovan is reluctant to take a case that is far from his expertise, when he finally starts to research the procedures used to catch and investigate the undercover agent, he realizes that rules and laws that are put in place to protect all human beings were not followed – though this does not seem to matter to the judge, jury or populace, who simply despise the man and what he stands for.
Donovan strongly believes in the Constitution, the law, as well as the rights and freedoms of all individuals – and he puts everything he has into helping his hated client. In a simple, yet memorable scene that encapsulates this sense, we watch as commuters on a monorail glare menacingly at the lawyer, who is painted in a negative light in all of the newspapers they are reading on their daily commute.
The plot takes a turn as we transition from a legal battle to a situation where Donovan must travel to Berlin to broker a deal between the Americans (though he is not representing the government), the Soviets and the East Germans (who desperately want to be taken seriously as a nation). The government is hoping he will be able to recover pilot and spy Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell), while Donovan also gets word that an American student named Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) is in custody behind the soon-to-be complete Berlin Wall – so he plans on flipping the script to save both prisoners. It is utterly harrowing to watch the ordinary man make his way across the border and deal with numerous individuals, including diplomats and agents at the Soviet Embassy, East German lawyers and government higher-ups, as well as the supposed family of the Soviet spy (an entertainingly quirky scene). Though the man is out of his element, he shows great poise, heart and honour in the way that he represents both his client (who he has now come to see in a positive light) as well as the two trapped Americans. He is involved in every minute detail, placing his life on the line for this powerful cause (though the mission is top secret – so almost no one knows that he is playing mediator amongst the three nations).
The story, written by the Coen brothers as well as Matt Charman, is tight, sharp and surprisingly witty. The humour stitched throughout the script adds to the already nuanced based-on-true-events story, making it feel all the more authentic. The drama, placed in the hands of maestro Steven Spielberg, further accentuates this interesting moment in history. The iconic director is able to bring the story to vivid life, with simple yet effective visual storytelling techniques, stunning lighting (which at times is utterly bright, while at others adds a subtly beautiful sheen to the picture) and a gravitas that would perhaps have been lost in the hands of another filmmaker.
The cast further adds to the wonderful creative ensemble. Hanks is in tip-top form, creating a beautifully idealistic character that has a dry sense of humour and has to deal with a head cold while in frigid Berlin. Mark Rylance is perfect as the cool, calm and very stoic individual (who is also sniffling due to a cold). His deadpan deliverance, quite likeable attitude and cordial relationship with his lawyer only adds to the discombobulating nature of the Cold War era. He truly earned his Supporting Role Oscar nod and deserves a serious look for a victory (which we will learn later tonight).
I must also commend the creative team for coming up with a clever final scene that acts as a bookend to an earlier moment and illustrates how much change has come over the course of the film . . . as well as some of what Donovan has lived through.
Bridge of Spies is an excellent movie that beautifully captures the complex nature of the Cold War by way of a story that should be appealing to most people. The film thrives thanks to the superb team of creative individuals who were able to bring to life intriguing characters as well as a by-gone time – that contains all of the little quirks, attitudes and propaganda that made this era so bizarre. So, join me in watching this man stand up, against all odds, for what is just – and find out if he will be able to bridge the gap between three unrelenting parties.