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Bridge of Spies (2015) - Review


Steven Spielberg comes back after three years (Last movie being Lincoln in 2012) and shows us that he still got it. Bridge of Spies is a film based on a true story about an american lawyer, James B. Donovan, who during the cold war defended a Russian Spy and handled the exchange his exchange.

Tom Hanks plays as Donovan and he needs no introduction. He's yet again brilliant in this film and is his usual extremely likable self. Other characters delivered great performances as well, particularly the Russian spy, played brilliantly by Mark Rylance. He didn't had many scenes but I loved him in all of the ones he was in.

The movie is almost 2 and half hour long and is almost entirely dialogue based and I enjoyed the hell out of it. It didn't felt like the movie dragged on or got boring or anything. It was interesting from start to finish. The dialogue delivery was great and just like many of Spielberg's previous movies, there were many long takes that you often don't notice and that's something I've always loved about Spielberg, he somehow manages to incorporate those takes effortlessly and brilliantly in his movies. A very well shot film indeed.

I loved the aspect of the story that the protagonist is just doing his job, but the situation at hand i.e. The Cold War, made him an extremely unpopular man in his country. He knew his way with words, and with Tom Hanks at the helm of it, it was just great seeing him maneuver through situations and all.

Now the movie had some flaws. The guys at the other side of the exchange weren't fleshed out that much and it wasn't as interesting to watch. And it mattered because we are suppose to really care for the exchange and all. Also, it felt sorta odd showing Russians and there side kinda more evil/bad and Americans as goodie good guys, for the most part at-least. And in a movie like this, it would have definitely been better if it was more neutral among both parties.

All in all, it is great to see Spielberg back again and delivering. Definitely one of the better movies of last year.

8.3/10

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