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Steven Spielberg dramatizes the true Cold War-era story of James Donovan (Tom Hanks), an American lawyer tasked with defending a Russian spy named Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) in court. When Abel is convicted, Donovan pleads to keep the death penalty off the table, inviting public scorn upon Donovan’s firm and his family. But the plea pays off when an American pilot (Austin Stowell) is captured in Russian territory and an American student (Will Rogers) is imprisoned by the East Germans. Donovan embarks on a clandestine mission to exchange Abel for at least one of the American hostages — but Donovan is determined to bring both young men home.
Bridge of Spies feels like a throwback to political dramas of the ’70s, a type of serious filmmaking that’s largely disappeared from cinemas these days. It’s not one of the more exciting or engrossing films in Spielberg’s storied filmography, but it’s a remarkable true story worth a few hours of your time. Through the conscientious and empathetic character of Donovan, we’re asked to think twice about the function and treatment of spies, for every foreign spy we may capture and condemn has its American equivalent. Should we really despise spies for doing the job their governments order them to perform? The film also shines a light on the dangerous lives of spies who are lucky enough to be returned home, only to be persecuted for being caught or for ‘talking’ — whether they actually did so or not. Essentially, the film adds shades of gray to a scenario we’ve grown accustomed to seeing starkly ‘black and white’.
Hanks gives a reliably engaging performance, but Rylance gives the standout performance as the curiously calm and collected Abel. At several points in the film, Donovan asks Abel if he ever gets nervous or worried, even as he’s about to be sentenced. Abel’s droll answer is always the same: “Would it help?” The film also benefits from Spielberg’s singular talent for elaborate scene staging, top-notch production and costume design, and sparse but evocative scoring from Thomas Newman.
With Scott Shepherd, Dakin Matthews, Amy Ryan, Noah Schnapp, Alan Alda, and Jesse Plemons.
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actor (Mark Rylance)
Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Original Screenplay (Matt Charman, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen), Score (Thomas Newman), Sound Mixing, Production Design