Bridge of Spies

Rating: 8/10 (21 January 2016)

I saw this film reviewed on Film 2015 with Claudia Winkleman and Danny Leigh, then award nominations were announced and this film got a good amount of them, I wasn't sure originally whether I'd want to see it or not, but I cannot ignore the films that get this buzz, from BAFTA nominated director Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan). Based on a true story, set in 1957 during the Cold War, lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), who specialises in insurance settlements, is recruited by his firm to defend accused Soviet Russian spy Rudolf Abel (Oscar and BAFTA winning, and Golden Globe nominated Mark Rylance, star of Wolf Hall). Donovan has never practised criminal law, after World War II he was formerly a prosecutor at the Nuremburg trials, so the prosecuting attorneys, the judge, his firm and his family do not expect him to mount a strong case for Abel, Donovan becomes a hate target by many who just want Abel executed. Abel is found guilty of all charges and convicted, but Donovan convinces the judge to sentence him to 30 years imprisonment rather than execution, as he could be valuable to the USSR as a bargaining chip for an American spy the Soviets might have in custody, Donovan also appeals against the U.S. Supreme Court, presenting evidence that a search warrant was not issued during the arrest of Abel. This scenario does come into play, American pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) flies a U-2 spy plane over the Soviet Union, he is shot down, captured, convicted and interrogated, then American economics graduate student Frederic Pryor (Will Rogers) visits his German girlfriend in East Berlin, during the building of the Berlin Wall, trying to bring her back into West Berlin, but border control stops and arrests him as a spy. The USSR send a message to Donovan, under a false identity, proposing a prisoner exchange: Abel for Powers, Donovan travels to Berlin to begin negotiations, he finds out about the capture of Pryor and is instead insisting on a 2-for-1 exchange. The CIA are only interested in the return of Powers, but Donovan negotiates for Pryor as well, on condition that there is no jeopardising of the Abel-for- Powers deal, however the East German government holding Pryor suddenly pull out, they are insulted Donovan did not inform them of the involvement of the USSR during the negotiation, the CIA want to leave Pryor behind, but Donovan threatens East Germany that the entire deal will be scrapped, Abel could talk, and East Germany would be blamed by the USSR for any damage. In the end, after long hours and patience, Donovan's efforts are rewarded, the exchange is agreed and takes place on the Glienicke Bridge and at Checkpoint Charlie simultaneously, Abel, Powers and Pryor are freed and handed over peacefully to the opposite sides, Donovan gains credit for his achievement. Also starring Amy Ryan as Mary Donovan, Scott Shepherd as Hoffman, The Lives of Others' Sebastian Koch as Wolfgang Vogel, Alan Alda as Thomas Watters Jr., Mikhail Gorevoy as Ivan Schischkin, Eve Hewson as Carol Donovan and Child's Play 3's Dakin Matthews as Judge Byers. Hanks in his fourth Spielberg collaboration as always gives a great everyman performance with stamina, Wolf Hall star Rylance is a great choice as the always calm mole-like dignified man,I was wondering if this film would be complicated or too political, and I'm thankful it wasn't, the real- life story about prisoner exchange and a paranoid climate is very interesting, with the backgrounds and costumes it feels authentic, it is an enjoyably patriotic wartime historical drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Writing, Original Screenplay for Matt Charman and Ethan and Joel Coen, Best Music for Thomas Newman, Best Sound Mixing and Best Production Design, and it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Original Music, Best Sound and Best Film. Very good!