You know how every once in a while, you forget why someone is as acclaimed as they are, because you haven’t been thinking about them, or their work as fallen off, or whatever. And then you see, hear whatever, something of theirs and go, “Ooohh, yeah, I like that guy. That guy is awesome.”
That’s what Bridge of Spies is. This movie reminds us why Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks are at the level they are. The film tells the story of Jim Donovan, an insurance lawyer from Brooklyn who is tasked with defending a Russian spy in the late 1950’s. This eventually leads to him facilitating a prisoner exchange in Berlin, saving an American U2 pilot being held by the Russians and a grad student held by the East Germans.
The movie it’s self reminds me of some of Spielberg’s best (although it’s not quite up to Schindler’s List and Lincoln’s level, it’s awfully close.) and it’s probably my favorite Tom Hanks performance since Philadelphia. But this is material that suits these men. It’s carefully optimistic, but not light. It’s critically patriotic, if that’s a way to describe a thing. Donovan is dedicated to American Ideals, explaining that our law, our constitution is the thing that makes us Americans.
This isn’t really a thriller. It has moments of suspense, of course, but it’s closer to a legal drama and it’s a very good one.
Rankings!
- The Martian
- Straight Outta Compton
- Crimson Peak
- Bridge of Spies
- The Man From UNCLE
- Ant-Man
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Inside Out
- Trainwreck
- Tomorrowland
- Jurassic World
- Ricki And The Flash
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Minions
- Fantastic Four
- Terminator: Genisys
- Entourage
- Pitch Perfect 2
Trailers
Mostly the same as That Martian, but also Jungle Book! It looks pretty beautiful. And a Spectre trailer I hadn’t seen before. That’ll probably be my next review. I don’t think I’ll make it to the movies this weekend.
Sailor Moon check in will go up tomorrow. I really needed the movie time yesterday, hence the switch up.
