Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb shares his thoughts on Steven Spielberg’s new Cold War drama, starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance…
Based on true events, Bridge of Spies follows the trial of Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy captured working in New York in 1957. Main protagonist James Donovan (Tom Hanks) is the American councillor tasked with defending Abel, but finds himself caught in the midst of the Cold War.
As is to be expected from ‘Triple-A’ blockbuster titles, Bridge of Spies delivers a believable and accurate window to the past. Scenes set on the Brooklyn streets (and later in East Berlin) are astonishing, and the 1950s attire and deco is wonderfully nostalgic.
Spielberg has tried (and succeeded) to place his characters into an immersive world, but it does – on occasion – only serve to distract from the moments when the script falls flat.
Spielberg’s actors, however, aren’t quite as perfect as his world. Tom Hanks delivers a convincing performance, and proves yet again that he’s an extremely competent actor, but perhaps past his best. Here we have yet another Spielberg movie in which Hanks’ character is the black sheep.
Thankfully, Rylance’s performance is extremely refreshing. When Abel is incarcerated, he is asked why he isn’t alarmed by the prospect of the death penalty, to which Abel simply replies “Would it help?”
The supporting cast is solid, but there is a lack of development seen in Donovan’s family and peers, especially his wife who appears frequently but is uninteresting. The American authorities in this movie (in particular the C.I.A) seem to be the standard impatient, patriotic men who fit the ‘Cold War Criteria’ nicely.
As for moments of intense drama, there’s a light spattering. The courtroom scenes are brief and tedious, but excitement kicks in as Hanks makes his way through East Berlin. It’s engaging and beautiful, and the climactic exchange on the Glienicke Bridge is a superb, well-crafted cinematic moment. It’s just a shame that there weren’t more scenes like this.
Suffice to say that Bridge of Spies is visually fantastic, and there are moments of excellence from its leading actors, but these days watching a Spielberg movie is a lot like going to a museum. You don’t necessarily go for the thrill, but for the experience. Bridge of Spies falls into the same trap as 2012’s Lincoln, in that a predictable plot hides behind beautiful set design and a star-studded cast.
We can forgive it for not being particularly rewarding, but one hopes for Spielberg’s return to making less ‘grown up’ movies. Nevertheless, the Academy will likely try to give Bridge of Spies an Oscar, to which I ask… would it help?
Our Bridge of Spies review was written by Vue Cinema’s Olly Cobb. For more information on the latest cinema releases, or to book tickets, visit www.myvue.com.
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