Bridge of Spies: Ethical Espionage

Once in a while, you have a terrible week and want nothing more to do with the human race. At such times, the best course of action is to watch a Tom Hanks movie, because that man will restore your faith in humanity. His performance in Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies is no exception.

Set in 1957 and based on a true story, the movie tells the story of James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer who is given the unenviable task of defending Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), an undercover Russian spy arrested by the CIA in New York. While the judge and the entire country view this as a show trial to highlight American justice yet still condemn the man, Donovan is determined to do his best for his client. While he fails to get a verdict of Not Guilty, he does save Abel from the death penalty, arguing that one day the US might need to give him up in exchange for a captured American spy. Then Donovan's prediction comes true. An American pilot is shot down over Moscow, and the American government asks Donovan to organize a prisoner exchange in East Germany. Of course, with no diplomatic recognition until the exchange is complete.

It's a dangerous mission, full of potential pitfalls. East Germany is extremely volatile as the Berlin Wall is about to go up and Donovan is in near constant danger during the entire trip. But this affable insurance lawyer is no ordinary man. He believes in his duty to his client and his duty to his country, and he'll be damned if he doesn't do the right thing. The entire time, he seems quiet and intelligent, stoically using the law and his wits to win arguments and quip his way through uncomfortable moments. But at one crucial moment, when all seems lost, he stands his ground and makes a righteous threat. And we see that this is a man with a backbone of steel and a principled passion for justice. He is done playing spy games.

Apart from Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance is also delivering a scintillating performance as Rudolf Abel and we are ultimately presented with not just one, but two good men. They come from very different places and have very different ideas about the world, but they share the same values of being calm and intelligent in a crisis, and simply being decent. Abel eventually wins Donovan's respect, and it is clear that while these men find themselves on opposite sides of a war, they refuse to view each other as enemies. Donovan will always steadfastly stand up for his "guy" and that loyalty does not go unnoticed by Abel.

Bridge of Spies is a quintessential Spielberg movie that tells its story simply and well. I was enraptured by the score throughout the entire movie, only to discover that it was by my favorite film composer, Thomas Newman. The movie is beautifully shot by Janusz Kaminski, and the script by Matt Charman and the Coen brothers features compelling ideas about what it means to be an American and the fundamental differences between democracy and communism. Whether it delves into Donovan's family drama, draws you into courtroom bombast, or has you on the edge of your seat for the prisoner exchange on the bridge, this movie keeps you invested in its characters and never loses your interest.