Bridge of Spies (2015)

Say “spy film” and it is easy to picture chases, gunfire, and dazzling disguises. Bridge of Spies sidesteps every one of those clichés. The fiercest battle in this film is a fight of words and conviction waged in conference rooms, in a courtroom, and on a snow-covered bridge. Steven Spielberg shapes a diplomatic true story of the Cold War, which could easily have turned tedious, into a weighty drama through one man’s unshakable principle. The fact that the story is rooted in real events adds to that weight. My rating is ★4.0.

What it’s about — A citizen who defends an enemy spy

It is the late 1950s, as the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union races toward its peak. James Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer, is assigned to defend Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy arrested in the United States. For defending an enemy agent he is surrounded by society’s hostility, yet he will not bend his conviction that everyone has the right to a fair trial. Meanwhile a U.S. reconnaissance pilot is shot down over Soviet airspace and taken prisoner, and Donovan, caught between the two nations, takes on the unofficial negotiation to exchange the two prisoners. The stage is divided Berlin, in the very midst of the wall just going up.

Direction — Tension built up with words, without gunfire

Spielberg’s direction supports the story with precision rather than boasting of flash. He does not exaggerate events; he builds tension through the characters’ expressions and the air of the spaces. The calm order of 1950s New York and the gloomy, menacing mood of a Berlin where the wall has gone up are vividly contrasted through the art direction and cinematography. The hand of the Coen brothers, who contributed to the screenplay, shines throughout. The dialogue exchanged between Donovan and Abel is lean and concise yet carries a peculiar wit and resonance, keeping us following a heavy subject to the end without fatigue.

There is almost no gunfire and no explosion, but the film is never slack. Each time a word is traded at the negotiating table, and each moment the exchange takes place on the bridge, your palms sweat. The seasoned skill of turning a seemingly ordinary affair into extraordinary tension lifts this film beyond a simple period piece.

Performance — The rapport between an unflappable Abel and a steadfast Donovan

Tom Hanks suits the figure of Donovan as well as anyone could. Instead of heroic charisma, he plays the steadfastness of an ordinary citizen who silently upholds what he believes is right. Unshakable principle, and the fatigue that principle exacts, are held together in his face. The spy Abel, played by Mark Rylance, is the film’s other jewel. He is almost never rattled. That restrained composure, revealing neither fear nor anger, leaves all the stronger an impression. His indifferent retort, “Would it help?”, compresses the film’s sensibility. The quiet rapport of trust the two actors trade holds the center of the work steady amid the larger events.

What the film says — Can fairness be kept even toward an enemy?

The heart of Bridge of Spies is the value of principle. Donovan’s insistence on treating a person as a person, enemy or ally, and on applying the same rules to everyone, shines all the brighter in the mad era of the Cold War. Through him the film asks: can fairness be kept even toward someone the majority calls an enemy? When ideology and fear divide people, the warm conclusion of this film is the belief that a principle upheld by a single individual can ultimately save both sides.

Ratings & reception

The IMDb rating is 7.6 out of 10. The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer is 91 percent and Metacritic recorded 81 out of 100. Critics praised in one voice Spielberg’s assured direction, Tom Hanks’s trustworthy performance, and Mark Rylance’s restrained, masterful turn. Rylance won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this work. The strength of a screenplay that sustains tension without action is also frequently cited.

Verdict

Bridge of Spies is a film that delivers deep resonance without commotion. Expect flashy espionage action and it may feel flat, but if you know how to savor a character’s conviction and a restrained tension, it is more than satisfying. It is a classical drama for adults, forged by a master’s seasoned direction and the solid rapport of two actors. The ★4.0 rating is an assessment of this film’s dignity, which holds the gaze to the end without noise.

Recommended for

• Those who enjoy the tension of words and conviction over gunfights
• Viewers who want to see the calm acting rapport of Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance
• Anyone interested in the Cold War setting and true-story-based drama