A good story and good points but cumbersome to watch

Rating: 7/10 (9 December 2015)

Bridge of Spies had two things going for it that I thought for sure would make it a hit in my books. You have Tom Hanks and you have Steven Spielberg. How can you go wrong? Probably one of the greatest actors known to us and one of the greatest directors. Bridge of Spies is a fascinating story, well acted, definitely saved from oblivion by the intense talent of the two aforementioned men. However, the pacing of the film is definitively off. It feels slow and it is slow. It is almost cumbersome to try and pay attention. There just feels like there is something missing that makes it more captivating and I think professional critics will agree with me and Bridge of Spies won't make a splash at all. Now all that said, there is no doubt you can see Spielberg's masterful eye and vision in many shots. The film is, at times, a cinematographic masterpiece. Visually amazing scenes of Berlin during the wall being put up and the horrifyingly powerful scene of Hanks watching people desperately trying to get over the wall. The bleak coldness of Berlin at the time (although apparently the wrong time of year for the real story - it worked well for dramatization purposes.)
Tom Hanks...the man, the legend...a living icon of Hollywood. He produces and writes and acts and gets awards and he has had an incredible career. He is just charismatic on screen and he becomes every character he portrays and this performance is no exception. His portrayal is passionate and the character well established. Hanks does what he does best. Mark Rylance is getting a lot of buzz for his performance as Russian spy Rudolf Abel and certainly he does a good job in a sort of understated and subtle way. His role isn't very big but it is effective and he and Hanks are great together. It's a very fascinating relationship. The supporting cast are all good but the film definitely focuses heavily on Hanks' character so they get small roles. Amy Ryan, Austin Stowell, Dakin Matthews, Sebastian Koch and Burghart Klaußner are a few of the better supporting performances in the film.
Saying anything about Steven Spielberg's direction is literally pointless. The man is a master and a visionary and as I mentioned you can definitely his expert mastery in the film. The only issue perhaps is that someone who is editing or producing his films might be reluctant to be honest about potential issues. Bridge of Spies goes on too long and stumbles in several respects and even misses some key things that could have made the story more interesting. Still, it has it's appeal but considering Hanks and Spielberg's involvement at the head it is forgettable in its genre and that's simply unfortunate. I sort of had high expectations for good reason it only delivered on a very slight level. Worth watching once but don't expect a Saving Private Ryan or a Schindler's List but poor man's version of either of those. 7/10