Surprisingly entertaining: The man of what if's negotiations wins my heart

Rating: 9/10 (25 October 2015)

Loved this film!
The title is actually literal! It's all revealed in the last sequences of the film. Wonderful impact! But watch carefully seeds are planted at the very beginning of the film to guide your mind into the end. The pace of the film is perfect – no time for boredom, and enough time for exposition to understand what's going on and keep the suspense. Some apparent loose strings come together at the end—it all makes sense and it's wonderful.
The world building is realistic: Spielberg shows us the destruction of East Germany, the horrors of the wall, and the economic and social devastation. Of course Spielberg is a superstar in this territory—he's done war masterpiece films before. He knows how to compose images that stir curiosity and deep emotions.
The writers did a superb job with a sequence of scenes that makes us (the audience) care very much for Jim (Tom Hanks) and his missions. We understand him. We want him to succeed: he's a man of altruism, honor, generosity, and justice. He's a warm and kind husband, father, and citizen. He sacrifices his reputation. And he's so smart! He uses his knowledge in probabilistic insurance models to make decisions on his spy negotiations. Brilliant.
When Jim says that the Russian spy should be given incarceration and not electric chair because he could be used for an exchange, in case the Russians get an American spy this gave me the hint of what was coming later. Even though there's some predictability, the whole situation of an American lawyer in treacherous enemy territory to hold negotiations is incredibly suspenseful.
I was on the edge of my seat I laughed with Tom Hanks mannerisms and sense of humor (his trademark shouts and gestures) in rough times. I got teary in the last sequence of the exchange, and how Jim's kindness won the Russian's spy's heart.
Tom Hanks is the master of showing emotional engagement and astute acting. He is a delight to watch on the big screen. The rest of the cast does a fine job and thanks to them the best and the worst of Jim's character shows up on the screen. Conflict and suspense are part of every minute of this film! Jim took measured risks—for the sake of doing the right thing—and he succeeded. Wonderful 2 hours! Loved it!
I was super surprised to see the energetic sequence of the airplane taken down by a Russian missile! An unexpected exciting moment of action and thrill! Because of this event, at midpoint in the film things flip upside down for Jim – he has to go to East Berlin to negotiate 1 for 1 exchange, but while he is there, he learns there's a student that happened to be at the wrong time and got captured and he makes it a 2 for 1which becomes an incredible difficult and dangerous task
This is a masterpiece to be absorbed and relived many times. Cheers.