The intrigue of the Cold War was, I suppose, the lack of guns and the prevalence of quick wit. This wasn't a war of bloodshed but rather the need for information about the enemy. Espionage, as it were, stocked the front lines with men hidden in plain sight, both in America and Russia.
Enter Rudolph Abel (Mark Rylance), a quiet Brooklyn dweller who paints landscapes in the park and self-portraits in the quiet of his apartment. In fact, the front half of the film is dedicated to just that; the portrait of a spy living amongst us. He is arrested, searched, hated, and yet his first thoughts are to tidy up the apartment before being hauled to prison. As a Russian spy, he is even more unassuming given his vague Scottish accent. His birth records indicate he was born in England, but how can we be sure he isn't just making it all up?
As it's America, Abel is given due process of the law, and he is introduced to James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), an insurance lawyer tasked with defending the man. "If Abel is the most hated man in America, then I'm #2," Donovan remarks during the case. Indeed, his entry into the story isn't one of passion, but as the case grows and evidence is assembled, Donovan can't help but see two things: that were it not for the high publicity of the case the trial would be thrown out, and that Abel is indeed a dignified man of honor.
The relationship between these two men is one of the more intriguing relationships I can remember in a movie. From distrust grows mutual respect, and though they part ways in the end, can the bond they share truly be considered a friendship? Tom Hanks is truly the man for the part, and in every way he bleeds a sense of urgency and dignity to his performance as a man only seeking to do the right thing. Same for Mr Rylance, sure to be an Oscar nominee within a month or two. His quiet and yet memorable turn as the Russian spy is constantly full of surprises and humor. When asked why he doesn't appear scared to be sentenced to death, he plainly remarks "will it help?"
The story is full of depth and proceeds much further than the Supreme Court hearing (wouldn't any other movie make that the climax as opposed to the midway mark?). We see Donovan cross into Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall's construction. In the search for justice, it seems, he realizes that the importance of saving the life of a spy would benefit America if ever a prisoner exchange were to occur. What follows is a battle of wits and integrity between Donovan and American policy and Germany and Russia.
What's most surprising is the lack of John Williams in the production, nearly unprecedented in Spielberg's nearly 50 year career. The composer instead is Thomas Newman, one of the most established and recognizable musicians in movies today. Following in the vein of a true Williams' score and weaving in a tapestry of his personal style, Newman's work is truly memorable and perhaps could win him his first Oscar after a record 12 losses.
It's easy to take Steven Spielberg for granted. His name has come to represent excellence in movie-making, and yet his films are typically given a quiet ovation. 'Bridge of Spies' is a beautiful story of large proportions that is also an intimate, heartwarming account of a narrow sliver of global history. Here is continued proof why this is a director who will never be matched.
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