BRIDGE OF SPIES

                                   Photos courtesy of Dreamworks and 20th Century Fox

Tom Hanks attempts to broker a deal between Eastern and Western superpowers in Steven Spielberg's cold war drama BRIDGE OF SPIES.  BRIDGE OF SPIES is based on the real-life account of James Donovan, an American insurance lawyer who came to defend a Russian spy in the United States and later went on to serve as a mediator between America and the former Soviet Union in negotiating an exchange of each countries spies.

Hanks is Donovan, a husband and father of three, who is recruited by the US government and the insurance company he works for, to defend Rudolf Abel, played by Mark Rylance, a Soviet spy that has been detained by the FBI for espionage. Hanks represents Abel, but loses a hard-fought case against the bureau.  Donovan's victory comes in Abel's sentencing, as the court rules that Abel be detained in a federal prison for up to 30 years, as opposed to instituting a death sentence.

This sentencing would later prove crucial, as Donovan is called upon by the United State government to broke an exchange deal between the former Soviet Union and the United States, exchanging Abel for captured US spy and pilot Francis Gary Powers.

BRIDGE OF SPIES is a nice companion piece for Spielberg's last cinematic endeavor, LINCOLN. Both are centered around historical United States moments, and both films are focused on the mechanisms of two of America's most prized institutions.

Where LINCOLN dabbled in politics and the legislative process, BRIDGE OF SPIES centers its attention around the American judicial system.  Politics again come into play in BRIDGE OF SPIES as Spielberg thoughtfully infuses his account of the proceedings with what he believes unites us all as Americans, our constitution.  Early in BRIDGE OF SPIES, Donovan interacts with CIA Agent Glienicke Bridge, played by Martin Dew, and iterates that although their heritages are distinctly different, that both men as Americans and are bound together by the rules, the US Constitution.  Spielberg argues that all men should be treated equally under "the rules", whether they're a US citizen or not.  Central to BRIDGE OF SPIES are the performances of Hanks and Rylance.  Hanks embodies Donovan as an every man, initially taking the assignment out of obligation, but later seeing it as a patriotic duty.  Rylance's portrayal is a bit trickier, keeping the mystery surrounding Abel concealed, while allowing bits of the spy's personality to seep through his performance.

Where LINCOLN was a careful and thorough examination of the United States legislative process, BRIDGE OF SPIES is an emotional plea for American ideals.  Spielberg crafts a riveting negotiating thriller wrapped around his vision of what our country stands for.  I highly recommend BRIDGE OF SPIES with a B+.