Set to release in two weeks but premiering at the NYFF is Bridge of Spies, the next entry into the world of cinema by legendary director Steven Spielberg. Written by the Coen Brothers and Matt Charman, this dramatic thriller tells the story of James Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer assigned to defend a Russian spy, only to later be recruited by the CIA to help rescue and American pilot who was shot down and imprisoned in the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Here’s the thing about Bridge of Spies, it’s an entertaining film with solid performances, but it doesn’t really add anything new to the Cold War genre, it rarely gets tense for a thriller and there isn’t much there to really captivate the audiences in a way that would scream “Oscar!” for Spielberg and co. Obviously, this is annoying but it is part of the late Spielberg pattern, roughly every other film has been meh.
Hanks is the star of this show and is on screen for a majority of the film. The Russian spy he defends, Rudolf Abel, played wonderfully by Mark Rylance, is the other main star. Hanks is occasionally overshadowed by Rylance’s dry wit and humor, but the two of them are the most interesting aspects of Bridge of Spies followed by the details regarding Donovan’s involvement with JFK. They aren’t awards worthy performances but they certainly are enjoyable and captivating enough that the movie doesn’t even remotely feel like it’s over two hours.
One of the more subtle touches of the film that I liked was the score by composer Thomas Newman. Newman, who replaced John Williams, crafted a score that not only fit the era, but really helped elevate the mood in certain scenes. It’s one of the few memorable things that I took away from the film.
As for the story, it’s pretty light hearted for a Cold War drama. Even with all the frustrating things Donovan had to overcome in order to try and achieve his goals never really felt urgent. This is a movie about spies but not really about espionage, which I think will help put things into perspective for those expecting a dramatized Bond flick or something like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. This is a film that looks good, clearly has elements of Spielberg’s style but doesn’t have a ton in the way of substance that makes me think to myself, damn, this was an incredibly tense moment in time, and that’s why I can’t praise it the way some people are likely to.
Like most of Spielberg’s films, Bridge of Spies is an enjoyable period piece sporting great performances from its diverse cast, a quality score that sets the right mood, and lovely cinematography that we’ve come to expect from a man who prides himself of his visuals. It hits a lot of the right buttons but it ends up lacking the depth, excitement and engrossing feelings that many of us want to experience when watching his films. There’s no doubt in my mind the film will do well when it releases, just don’t get your hopes too high for the film, this isn’t making many, if any, top 10 lists this year.
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