Bridge of Spies

PG-13

10/16/20152h 21m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ In the shadow of war, one man showed the world what we stood for. ~

Overview:

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan, recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel, the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$40,000,000.00

Revenue:

$165,478,348.00

Key words:

central intelligence agency (cia)
spy
cold war
soviet union
pilot
lawyer
american
courtroom
russian spy
legal drama

Cast

Tom Hanks

~ as ~

James B. Donovan

Mark Rylance

~ as ~

Rudolf Abel

Amy Ryan

~ as ~

Mary Donovan

Alan Alda

~ as ~

Thomas Watters Jr.

Sebastian Koch

~ as ~

Wolfgang Vogel

Austin Stowell

~ as ~

Francis Gary Powers

Billy Magnussen

~ as ~

Doug Forrester

Michael Simon Hall

~ as ~

Reporter

Edward James Hyland

~ as ~

Chief Justice Earl Warren

Stephen Kunken

~ as ~

William Tompkins

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Reviews (7)

AG
Andres Gomez
Written 9 year(s) ago
8
Steven Spielberg really knows how to craft movies and this is a very good example. A simple and good story, well scripted, with a well chosen cast and with Tom Hanks, who keep giving us great performances.

Amy Ryan does a great job, which is even better in the case of Mark Rylance.
Reno
Written 9 year(s) ago
9

Totally unexpected PG-13 rated negotiation-drama based on the Cold War.

The movie that should have been made 50 years ago, but due to the international political tension it did not take off. So now it's here, the same director made it. It's a rocking combo, once again Spielberg and Hanks come together, tell me who's going to miss that. Simply spellbinding, one of the best movie of the year.

I think this flick is for adults. There's no sex, no nudity, not even a single kiss or the bad language and zero violence, its fine for teens and kids can understand, but the story is what I meant that suits only for the grown ups. Like the usual, this Spielberg movie is easy to follow, there's no tricky twists and turns, but aimed for only the event that's based on the real.

Over a 2 hour long negotiation drama with surrounded by suspense and thrills. It's completely a one man show and the end has been just like everybody wanted. I'm not surprised that it is nominated for the Oscars in the 6 categories including the best motion picture. I would be very happy if it puts at least a couple of trophies to its basket. I feel it is a must see if you're interested in WWII related subjects, other than the war.

8½/10
d
djgri
Written 8 year(s) ago
8
Mark Rylance is brilliant in this film. Tom Hanks does his usual excellent performance. I don't know much about Mark Rylance. Maybe he is one of those rare brilliant actors who just hasn't had the accolades he deserves. I am sure that if you asked him if he was worried about his lack of recognition, that he would simply say "would it help?"
Peter McGinn
Written 5 year(s) ago
9
Two great actors deliver with a simple but superlative script. Of course we know how great an actor Tom Hanks has been, with many Academy Award wins and nominations in his body of work. I think sometimes he makes it look so easy that he doesn't receive adequate credit for those roles. Sir Mark Rylance is more of a character actor, even though he has had lead roles also. He disappears into his characters. He was wonderful playing Thomas Cromwell in the British tv series Wolf Hall. Boy, am I looking forward to the next series of that standout program. Oh, and by the way, he won the Academy Award for his work in this very film I am reviewing here. And of course it was directed by Steven Spielberg, a bit of a legend himself.

The plot to Bridge of Spies is not as layered and complex as many spy thrillers, but if anything, not having twists and turns dropping onto our head from above allows the suspense to build out in plain sight. Interestingly, one of the key scenes was filmed on location where the event actually took place. I am leaving out the details in case are you haven't watched it yet
r96sk
Written 4 year(s) ago
10
Superb film!

I love 'Bridge of Spies'. Every angle of it, at least from my point of view, is expertly crafted. The score by Thomas Newman is outstanding, the onscreen talent bring their a-game while the story is extremely riveting. It lasts for 141 minutes, it felt like 90 minutes tops; it absolutely flies through its run time, at no moment did I feel anything close to bored.

Tom Hanks is brilliant in the lead role as Donovan, yet another great performance to add to his résumé. He rightly takes all the plaudits, but some must be left for Mark Rylance who is also brilliant as Abel. The support cast also more than pull their weight, too.

Undeniably worth your time. Not sure how much of it is historically accurate (sounds like most is?), I honestly don't really care as it's a great film - which is what we are all here for after all.

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