The battle for leverage escalates greatly during the Cold War, in “Bridge of Spies”. Tom Hanks stars as James Donovon, the American attorney tasked with negotiating the release of a U-2 spy plane pilot who was shot down over Russia at the height of the Cold War. After two American citizens are caught on enemy soil, the desire for release to the pilot becomes greater, as Donovon is stuck in the middle of two world powers in a mission for knowlege about the other. “Bridge of Spies” boosts Spielberg’s best directing effort of the 21st century. As one of the last truly great filmmakers, Spielberg crafts a period piece that examines the Cold War from a different perspective. In tow, is one of his favorite collaborators Tom Hanks. The fourth time these two mega powers have teamed up.

What makes this film really stand out is the attention to detail from the mind of Spielberg. Costume design would be easy enough for a film that takes place during the 60’s, but everything from the designs of the houses, to the hundreds of classic cars featured in the film, to the picture perfect cinematography, everything and everyone here pitches in for a great effort. There was a lot of uncertainty going on during this time, and the movie does an excellent job getting across that point of sheer panic, as well as absurdity in safety propoganda being played for young children to falsely educate. What I find brilliant is that the screenplay doesn’t treat this fully as a pro-American movie. There is a close examination here of the comparison between these two super countries, and just how similar they really are. The actions and responses are vastly different, but the thirsts for knowledge about the other one, the harsh treatment of each prisoner by the country they are prisoned in, as well as the dirty business done behind the scenes. This isn’t a film that casts the American name in the brightest of light, and I greatly appreciated a film with bravery to explore this side of the coin that is rarely discussed.

I want to talk about the man who is front and center of this film or any film that he decides to grace in 2015, and that is Tom Hanks. The man is beloved by movie lovers everywhere, and it’s his well rounded performance in this feature that casts clarity to anyone not knowledgeable by how great he truly is. We’ve all always known that Hanks has a comedic timing that he presents with ease even in the darkest tones of a film. It’s in those laughs where the movie offers those breathing points for the audience during tense Soviet negotiations. This sarcastic wit has always made Hanks feel personable, and that is why we get behind and hope for the best in this man with every role he takes on. I have seen some Hanks movies that are real stinkers, but any movie is made so much better by his decades of experience in an ever evolving business.

This film was perfect to me for the first two hours, but then something happened in the final fifteen minutes that had me reaching for my watch. The film does a great job pacing this detailed story, as it gets better with each following act. Where the finale somewhat lost my interest was in the negotiations and the final scenes that feel like they are dragged out a little too much to create the tension that simply isn’t there. A lot of these scenes that push the negotiations for the prisoners release could’ve easily been cut down, and i wish Spielberg didn’t try to create more than was there.

Overall, “Bridge of Spies” levels a seasoned balance of tension, moral discussion and wit that keeps the film moving at just the right pace. It’s entirely a talking piece, so if explosions and car chases are your thing, this film might not be your kind of speed (pun intended). But if you want a spy thriller that showcases that this magnificent duo’s best years are still ahead of them, then check out the early favorite for best film of the fall season.

9/10