A couple of nights ago, the hubster and I went out on a date night to see Bridge of Spies. We were very excited to get out during the week to catch Tom Hanks, one of our favorite actors in a new film inspired by true events.
When the movie begins, we meet Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a a Soviet agent living in New York, who is arrested for sending coded messages back and forth to Russia. James Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance claims lawyer from Brooklyn is selected to represent Abel in order to give him a “fair trial”. As a his attorney, Donovan works to ethically represents Abel and begins to form a bond with him.
While the trial was nearing it’s end, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet airspace while on a mission. The Pilot, Francis Gary Powers was captured and sentenced to 10 years in prison in Russia. Worried that he may reveal classified information, a The CIA sets in motion a mission to rescue Powers and reaches out to Donovan to go to Berlin and offer Abel in exchange for Powers. In the meantime, Donovan was told there was an American Student Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) has been arrested in East Berlin while trying to return to his home in the West. Donovan works to bring home both men in exchange for Abel.
I liked the movie. The storyline was good, but I wanted to see a little bit more of what Rudolf Abel had been arrested for. And the beauty of the movie, you DO get to see how he secretly sent messages – don’t blink or you may miss it as it goes by really fast.I loved how calm Mark Rylance was in this role as the calm defendant. I think my favorite line of his was, “would it help” when Tom Hanks as Donovan, asked him if he was nervous or worried throughout the movie.
While the movie was not filled with crazy high action stunts and gun fights, it did have a bit of suspense like waiting for the negotiations to take place as Donovan speaks with officers for the prisoner exchange. To see the trek that Donovan had to take while going into enemy territory and all that he agreed to on behalf of the United States was quite remarkable. For me, the most memorable part was the train ride where he watched what happened when individuals tried to escape and climb over the Berlin wall, then as he arrived home, how different life was in the united states as you see boys jumping over fences playing – it’s night and day.
Would I recommend Bridge of Spies? Yes, I enjoyed this movie, however my husband isn’t in agreement with me. He wanted more action and dramatic effects.
Please share your opinions about Bridge of Spies, I’d like to hear another perspective.
I’m excited to see this movie! It sounds interesting.