Bridge of Spies

James Donovan didn’t need superpowers or martial arts. He did his part to save the world with his brain and his wit.

And now the true-life story of this unassuming Brooklyn attorney gets a deserving turn in the spotlight with Bridge of Spies, a Cold War espionage thriller from director Steven Spielberg that’s both taut and provocative.

Donovan (Tom Hanks) is an insurance lawyer who’s practically chosen at random to defend Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a Soviet spy who was captured at a New York hotel. His conviction is considered a formality, although the principled Donovan insists on proper representation for his client.

So his successful attempt to argue against the death penalty for Abel makes him a target for public outcry, yet his reasoning is sound — keeping Abel imprisoned as possible collateral for an American hostage down the line.

Such a circumstance presents itself when a pilot (Austin Stowell) is shot down during a mission in Russia, prompting the CIA to recruit Donovan for a tense exchange negotiation on foreign soil involving both the Soviets and the Germans.

Spielberg pushes the right buttons to maximize the crowd-pleasing potential of the material without the need for cheap manipulation or shameless sentimentality. The script is sharply written and well researched, maintaining a deadpan humor that prevents it from turning into a didactic history lesson or a procedural potboiler.

Yet there’s also depth to the meticulous period re-creation, both visually and narratively. The film derives some of its tension from the volatile political climate, and probes wobbly ethics during a time when adversarial perceptions greatly influenced due process and the judicial system. Some of its themes still resonate, of course, just not involving Russian spies.

Hanks is superb as the reluctant and clandestine hero pressured into a mission that’s framed as patriotic. He’s idealistic to a fault, and perhaps so is the film, as his efforts stretch the limits of common sense. Yet it’s compelling to watch Donovan navigate shifting loyalties. Rylance (Angels and Insects) is fascinating as the subtly recalcitrant captive who largely internalizes his emotions and intentions.

Some of the twists in Bridge of Spies work better than others, but it remains intriguing throughout as the film gradually ratchets up the suspense while building to a riveting climax with major international implications. It makes you appreciate the achievement of both the man and the movie.

Rated PG-13, 142 minutes.