Bridge of Spies
Bridge of Spies
PG-13 | 16 October 2015 (USA)
Bridge of Spies Trailers

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.

Reviews
LastingAware The greatest movie ever!
Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life
Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
Sebastian Salling Kierkegaard "Bridge of Spies" is a well acted drama, about the Cold War. It has great writing, acting and direction. If you love great movies, this is one of them!
Gavin Purtell 'Bridge of Spies' is an espionage thriller at its finest. It's set in the late 50s & early 60s and certainly looks the part - I always love seeing the old cars driving around New York, looking classy. Starts off like any classic spy film, but then Abel (Rylance) is caught. In comes Donovan (Hanks), an insurance lawyer who is asked to defend Abel, so he can receive due legal practice. The first 45min or so is a good courtroom drama and moves along fast enough, with Hanks giving a few great speeches and making some solid points about what's right and what's best.The movie really captures well the Cold War tension in America and what families would've gone through. It helps that this is the best film Spielberg has made in a few years and the best film Hanks has been in for a while. Once the movie turns into political chess, with an exchange of Abel for Powers (Stowell) in Berlin, the stakes are raised and there's plenty of great subterfuge.Hanks basically owns the film, with everyone having some good moments (especially Rylance, with his "would it help?"s), but he really plays a great everyman who stands up to both Germany, Russia & his own country (mostly portrayed by the CIA/Shepherd) for what is morally right and just, not just what is politically acceptable at the current time.
henryitkin This review may be a spoiler if you don't know the real history and haven't seen the movie. This an inspired depiction of the 1960's exchange of a Russian Spy captured by the United States and then traded for our spy captured by the Soviets. The movie is excellent and a sparkling story with superb acting that moves along whether you know what happened or you don't. Tom Hanks is at his best portraying a private attorney requested by the US Government to negotiate the exchange as a private person not a government employee. It gets quite tense at times and I understood it better the second time I viewed it. I gave it a 10. What struck me, and why I am writing this review, is the difference in our country then compared to now. Then we were all patriotic and it was USA first. It is not so now. Now we have many people who refuse to stand for the National Anthem. I liked our country better then than now. Actually I am disgusted at the behavior now. If you are interested as why, check on the NFL.
TonyMontana96 (Originally reviewed: 05/01/2017) Bridge of Spies is a very good picture, with solid performances, and a well put together screenplay. Spielberg and crew clearly know how to make a good film and this is no exception. However there are one or few things I didn't like such as how it starts off a little too slow and a few scenes where the characters speak in foreign languages without subtitles provided. Other than that, I can't complain. Also I think Tom Hanks is criminally underrated in the film, as you see critics and the Oscars praising Mark Rylance for his performance which I had no doubt was impressive, however Hanks for me gives the best performance in the film especially with his well-timed jokes and his caring, unpredictable attitude towards the current situation. He and Rylance do possess some of the best scenes together within the picture as well. Overall, I think Bridge of Spies is a riveting cold war drama with superb direction, good casting and a satisfying conclusion.