Far beyond a simple legal drama

Rating: 8/10 (29 February 2016)

When Spielberg and the Coen Brothers create something together, the result should/could be at least solid and versatile, even if the topic is controversial and/or not bespeaking wide audiences. This was my benchmark when I decided to spend almost 2.5 hours in front of screen; I had some vacillations as the Americans tend to approach European events and characters in a different manner we are used to. Luckily, it was not the case here - European venues seemed authentic, German characters spoke/were German, there was no black-and-white approach regarding "us vs. them", etc. And as the plot is based on true characters and events, then realism prevails, and artistic exaggerations just ensure more spirited and dynamic course of events, diminishing aridity usually so characteristic to Cold War spy movies. Thus, the main ideas of justice vs. fairness and legality vs. humanity were skilfully moved to the surface.
As for performances, they are good as well, particularly Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan and Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel; unlike many other movies with Hanks' starring, he does not dominate here, he is not evidently "better" (= so more famous) than his co-stars. And just today, Mark Rylance obtained his first Academy Award. Congratulations!
PS Only last fall, my country experienced a similar event: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksei_Dressen