Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. It’s hard to think of a more perfect actor and director pairing (I mean there’s Scorsese and De Niro but they kinda win by default). Both are talented, incredibly accessible, respected, and both drive ticket sales like nobody’s business. In Bridge of Spies the two mens’ talents converge once again and the results are predictably great.

It’s easy to take for granted how solid the direction in a Spielberg movie is because you just kind of expect it at this point. But the man’s still a natural, creating an establishing shot, profile, and close up all in one seamless take is still a talent of his as well as getting incredible performances out of his actors.

Inspired by true events, Bridge of Spies follows a private insurance lawyer in the 1950’s played by Hanks who is suddenly given a criminal case, that of a suspected Soviet spy (played by Mark Rylance in what is probably the best performance in the film). Hanks is given the task of defending the spy making him one of the most hated men in America but he persists in making sure that the American justice system is carried out the way it should be.

I won’t spoil anymore but I will say that this is what they call a “talking movie”. Little action actually takes place. However, I see this as being appropriate for a movie based on the Cold War which was of course not an actual physical war but a war of ideals and a war of spies. If you don’t enjoy “talking movies”, then I would skip over this one but if you are okay with a slower paced and talkative film than I say you should definitely give this one a watch. It’s a top notch film from a top notch director with a top notch lead actor.

Overall, the film is great; beautiful cinematography, strong performances, clever direction and editing and maybe a few sappy moments. But if you’ve been following Spielberg’s career thus far you probably already knew that.
8/10 Recommended to fans of talkative and thoughtful movies and fans of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks which probably includes most of the human race.