Review of Bridge of Spies (2015) by Chris W — 22 Jan 2016

A Cold War spy thriller, starring Tom Hanks, directed by Steven Spielberg - you know you're in safe hands. Whilst Bridge of Spies doesn't pack a strong political punch, it does surprise at times and always entertains.

The film's set up fools you into expecting a courtroom drama - a la To Kill a Mockingbird - with Hanks the morale Boy Scout and Rylance the enigmatic accused. Spielberg may play to the masses but he's not that patent.

We barely see 5 minutes of the case and are quickly whisked to East Germany, an embattled city mired in violence, suppression and paranoia. It's not often you get a Hollywood film that focuses its attention this much on the eastern side of the wall and Spielberg paints a fascinating picture with genuine tension.

Hanks is watchable as always but Rylance steals every scene he's in. In a lesser man's hands this could've been a thankless cypher of a part, but a masterful character actor such as Rylance creates an intriguing and genuinely hilarious role.

His imperturbable Abel draws surprising affection from the audience, despite residing in uncomfortable moral waters. Whilst it's not one of Spielberg's most memorable movies, Bridge of Spies remains a compelling story, well told.