Here is my review of Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies, coined by many as “this year’s most intense film.” 

The Cold War thriller, based on true events, centers on a New York insurance lawyer named James Donovan (Tom Hanks) who is recruited to defend an accused Soviet spy, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), in court. Donovan would later risk his life in Germany to negotiate an exchange for Soviet-captured U.S. spy plane pilot, Francis Powers (Austin Stowell).

My last review was about another Oscars-worthy film, The Martian, and this one is right up there with it. Its 141-minute runtime may seem a bit long to some, but I didn’t want it to end. As I’ve stated before, I love to be completely immersed in a film. For the film to take me to a different world. Bridge of Spies does exactly that. It transported me to 1957, smack dab in the middle of a very tense Cold War. Hanks provides an insight into his Donovan character like only he can achieve. Plus, Rylance gives an incredible performance as Abel. My personal favorite was when Donovan asks Abel if he’s worried about the ominous court proceedings and he responds, “Would it help?” As far as the scenes of the film, I keep using the term “intense” and perhaps one of the most intense or nerve wracking scenes is at the film’s climax when the exchange takes place on Glienicke Bridge. The scene kept me on the edge of my seat, my eyes glued to the screen, just waiting for something unplanned to happen. I won’t say what transpires on the bridge but I will say there is a satisfying end to the film as a whole.

Bridge of Spies is, undoubtedly, one of the most captivating films I’ve seen this year. It’s definitely worth your time – and I’m certain we’ll be hearing even more about it come Oscars time.

I Give It An: A


Check Out The Trailer Here