Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies " which once again demonstrates his capabilities in the industry without, however, achieving a stunning "wow" effect on the viewer. I hope the first sentence does not act off you because "Bridge of Spies " is definitely a good movie. The main problem I have with him is that he unites too little of the good things of the typical Spielberg approach and much of his irritating habits. The story revolves around capturing Rudolph Abel, a dubious citizen of no land, accused of espionage and conspiracy against the United States at the height of the Cold War. And just when you think that the film will offer a full-blown game of secret agents, documentary writing is interfering. Because "Bridge of Spies " is a movie mostly about James B. Donovan, an American lawyer who, in the wake of fate, finds himself at the center of the most humane conflict in the dispute between the two nuclear powers. I start with good qualities. Mark Rylance - in the role of Abel - is just great. Right from the beginning of the film, in combination with Janusz Kaminski's stunning cinematography, Spielberg managed to create a sense of the perfect spy. No, he is not at the dawn of his powers, nor is he the most attractive and ghosting gentleman with vodka-martini in his hand. On the contrary - as inconspicuous as possible, with habits that would not even make the impression of the comrade at the bottom of the corridor.
I have no regard for Raylyn's acting capabilities from other films, but even if his choice is an absolute typecast, not only do I have no problem with that, I even admire the hit. Or spoken with fewer words directly on the subject - well! The long-time film partner and friend (I do not know what comes first) to the director, Tom Hanks, is acting as James B. Donovan. The key figure in history. Struggling with the fictitious task of being an adequate defender of Abel's espionage accusations, he initially bears only negatives. When the United States is on the brink of a nervous crisis and everyone is expecting the powerful beam of destruction everywhere on the horizon, Donovan defies not only his principles, but he also focuses our attention on the main message in the film, namely - every human life matters. We have seen this, especially with Spielberg. "The Schindler List" and "Saving Private Ryan" are brilliant examples of the qualitative development of this idea. Regardless of how many contradictions she carries with her, the feelings of the viewer are unmistakable, and when the big screen goes out before us, we have the feeling that we have become a little better. Terrible, scared, right? I would not say that Spielberg recycles his ideas. But "Bridge of Spies " definitely did not give me anything more in this direction than the two films mentioned above. And here I will mention "Munich" because this title can not appear in your mind after the story of Abel / Donovan is over. Unfortunately (the new Uncle Stephen's installation), the comparison will be in favor of the "Olympic incident."
Back to the Cold War. As the defender of the guilty spy at all costs, the Hanks character becomes a non-grace person in his own country. He has been blown away by his foolish compatriots, who see in his face the atomic bomb that knocks on the door. All these things are shown in an extremely elementary, as irritating and redundant way as possible. But these Spielberg hobbies, which do not bother me, could easily be wiped out if the drama that started greatly escalated to the required high level. Alas, it did not happen. Instead, we get a nice, sometimes emotional comic relief, no matter in what situations the main character falls. This gulf that is taking place between the harsh realities of the era, and Donovan's play and mission, seems to me to be frivolous and deprives Spies Bridge of the feeling of impasse and despair - the most powerful weapon in Spielberg's directorial arsenal. The connection - spy exchange. Once it is clear that Abel will not be sent to the electric chair, you remember - the humanitarian moment, comes the new surprise. Everything is like a scenario and Donovan's foresight is decisive, because shortly after the process, the American pilot Francis Gary Powers, which is an insignificant element of the film but obligatory from a documentary point of view, falls into the foots of the enemy. To make it even harder, the exchange should take place in the heart of post-war Berlin, at the time when the foundations of the famous wall were laid.
"Bridge of Spies " is some kind of propaganda. Its creators are in their full right, but this is not the case. Just these elements are annoying, especially as you know that a cadre director and screenwriters have embraced the task of creating something good. Yes, the coercion of the brothers Cohen and Matt Charman is great. But with a negative sign. I have the impression I'm too critical of Bridge of Spies But that's it. Better with low expectations and being disproved than filling your pockets with great hopes and eventually leaving you disappointed, even from the little fact that Thomas Newman is responsible for the musical design. There is no John Williams, sad! For the final, Stephen Spielberg, and getting down, is still worth watching.