Review of Bridge of Spies (2015) by Chris B — 14 Feb 2016

Bridge Of Spies continues the trend of recent films by Steven Spielberg that are masterfully shot and acted, but lack any sense of emotion or immediacy. Here is a story of a man that has to enter Germany as the Berlin Wall is being erected to broker a deal with the Russians to release American prisoners.

If that isn't ripe for the picking, I don't know what story would be. Yet, I found myself looking at my watch several times, as the reality of the situation felt much more dry and clinical than what I had expected.

This didn't feel like a dramatization, than a docu-drama. The film is elegantly shot, with low key lighting, cool complimentary colours and period accurate sets. Tom Hanks once again anchors the film with the necessary weight it deserves.

Yet, in the end, I found that I took little away from the film and wouldn't recommend it. It is baffling to me that Spielberg was once the master of blockbusters, the master of period dramas, and lately he seems drawn to the minutiae, rather than the emotion of a story.

Check this out of you really enjoy cold war pieces, but otherwise, I'm amazed this has been getting the awards attention it has. 3 out of 5 stars.