Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Matt Charman, Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda
I was going to write about my 366th film of the year tonight, 8½ (1963), but after some thought I believe that the film has too many layers for me to peel back and examine right now. The only coherent thought I can hold in my head about it is that it reminds me of Charlie Kaufman's Adaptation (2002) in the sense that it's meta in the personal nature of the film; other than that, I think the film deserves a re-watch before I really try and write about it. Instead, I'll go with the next film on the numbered list, thankfully a safe and easy but also extremely competent pick.
Bridge of Spies was one of the last two films that had been nominated for Best Picture that I had yet to see at the time, the other being Brooklyn (2015). I knew it was written, at least in part, by the Coens, that it starred Tom Hanks, and that it was directed by Steven Spielberg, which meant I could expect excellence in all of these regards. These expectations held true; Bridge of Spies is very well made on all fronts.
*Warning: Spoilers Ahead*
Bridge of Spies is based on the true story of James B. Donovan (Hanks), a lawyer who is recruited to act as the defense of an accused Soviet spy (Rylance), and eventually asked to negotiate an exchange with the Soviets for a captured American U-2 spy plane pilot.
The film boasts an engaging plot that manages to be gripping despite the fact that very little real danger occurs. We're kept focused on people's emotions; there's effort here to help the audience understand that there is in fact genuinely horrible things that could happen if anything messes up at any moment. It's a small-scale reenactment of the Cold War that the film is set in: nobody ever fires a shot, but the threat of death always keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the tension between both sides is palpable, so much so that I wouldn't have been surprised if Tom Hanks had somehow been squished. Hank's performance as Donovan is also fantastic, as Hanks always is, effective as the every man thrown in to the deep end with a weight around his ankles. Hanks makes the whole narrative very easy to engage with, as you empathise with his key moments, particularly my favourite moment in the film, when he finally gets home and just crashes on his bed; it illustrates exactly the reaction you'd expect from an actual person in that situation; it takes Donovan beyond the idea of a character and cements him as a human being in the mind of the audience.
As competently made as the film is, if you've ever seen a Spielberg movie before, you may find yourself feeling like Spielberg is just checking points off a list at times. The film hits all of the expected beats and well-executed character moments, particularly Donovan's reaction to finally getting home, but at the same time, I couldn't help but see the film as extremely familiar, similar in pacing terms of pacing and soundtrack and characterisation, etc. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, Directors imitate themselves all the time, but for some reason it felt explicit while I was watching the film, and in the moments that I couldn't shake that thought I was taken out of the film.
The Verdict: Bridge of Spies is an excellently made film in essentially every regard, with a highly satisfying narrative and acutely believable acting from the principle characters involved, as well as the great directing work that people have come to expect from Spielberg. I recommend the film to anyone looking to watch a well-made film with a pleasing story.
Rating: 8/10
Published December 25th, 2016
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