Bridge of Spies

Bridge of Spies

Rating 7 out of 10

I will go see pretty much anything Tom Hanks is staring in.  This movie looked interesting from the first preview.  Didn't hurt that it was directed by Steven Spielberg.  If nothing else I knew it would be well acted and visually incredible.  That pretty much describes my movie experience.

Loosely based on a real story. In the early 1960s the CIA caught a Russian spy red handed.  There was no doubt.  While most Americans thought he should be taken out and shot he still had to be tried in a US court.  James Donovan is recruited to defend the spy and he takes his job seriously.  His defense of a spy causes problems for him and his family.  Turns out New Yorkers don't take kindly to a liberal lawyer befriending a spy.

After the spy is convicted an American U-2 spy plane is shot down 70,000 feet over Russia.  When both sides want a spy swap Donavan is the logical choice to negotiate.  Things get interesting when an American student is taken at the German wall and they want him back too.

This movie is a bit like watching the Titanic.  You pretty much know what is going to happen.  Even if you are not up on your Cold War history lessons the previews lay it out for you.  The reason to watch this movie is to see Tom Hanks at work.  He does the fantastic job you would expect.  Any other actor and this movie is a 5 at best.  Beautifully shot.  You feel like you are watching actual 60s Russia and Germany.

I was entertained even though it was a bit on the slow side.