Bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies is the cinematic masterpiece which tells the story of how insurance lawyer James Donovan takes on his first case of espionage during the Cold War. As a Russian spy is arrested and tried, American spies are also captured and it is left to Donovan to negotiate the release of the prisoners and defend a highly hated man.

The ingredients were all there from the start – a film starring Tom Hanks, directed by Steven Spielberg, a script by the Coen Brothers (and Matt Charman), a score by Thomas Newman – this was a project with the deck stacked in its favour for quite a long time. And the simple fact of the matter is that it isn’t – from its get-go, Bridge of Spies is an enthralling tale, a fascinating look at a true modern history story that chooses not to paint in broad strokes of moral ambivalence and futility – instead, we have a film that is uncynical and optimistic. Spielberg’s gift for craftsmanship shines through, putting this film a cut above, deal with the hope of Hanks’ character as equally as it does the tenseness built up by the situation.

Bridge of Spies is a wonderfully subtle dramatic piece that prizes dialogue about action, confident enough in its fantastic narrative to stride ahead, the tale of a man caught up in something bigger than himself who must rise to the challenge and does – this truly is one of the best films of the year, and you would be doing yourself an injustice were you to not see it.

Reece Goodall