Spielberg has really delved into period pieces lately, retelling stories in a smooth fashion. He has proven that he is capable of setting the tone for these pieces of history. In Bridge of Spies, Spielberg takes the moviegoer back to the Cold War by portraying the time period with costuming and set designs while also portraying the distrust of civilians during the war. Also, what better choice for a lead actor than Tom Hanks? As always, Hanks brings justice to the story through a powerful performance as James Donovan.
The time period of the film is extremely well designed with the view of American businessmen and USSR civilians. The set is also exactly what I would imagine to see in this time period and the film is interestingly well lit. A lot of the scenes are filled with bright lights shining into rooms, creating a nice atmosphere. A smooth and jazzy soundtrack also helps bring the audience into the time of the Cold War, where radio dominated a lot of media. Thomas Newman also adds themes to the film that are easily reminiscent of his work on The Newsroom.
Of course the real attraction of this film is Tom Hanks. Again Tom Hanks acts powerfully, giving an Oscar nomination-worthy performance. Just his facial expressions can tell the story throughout the film. These facial expressions are necessary, especially since some of the film has foreign languages spoken and no subtitles to accompany. The rest of the cast similarly act powerfully, supporting Hanks's main character and adding to the overall film quality. With acting like this, the film flies until the ending. Like most Spielberg endings, this one comes off a bit cheesy as it revolves many of the previous issues in the film. Still though, the whole movie is worth seeing.
The Bottom Line: This film is very Spielberg-esque with its strong acting, fitting score, and overly family-friendly ending.
Score: 9.5/10
The time period of the film is extremely well designed with the view of American businessmen and USSR civilians. The set is also exactly what I would imagine to see in this time period and the film is interestingly well lit. A lot of the scenes are filled with bright lights shining into rooms, creating a nice atmosphere. A smooth and jazzy soundtrack also helps bring the audience into the time of the Cold War, where radio dominated a lot of media. Thomas Newman also adds themes to the film that are easily reminiscent of his work on The Newsroom.
Of course the real attraction of this film is Tom Hanks. Again Tom Hanks acts powerfully, giving an Oscar nomination-worthy performance. Just his facial expressions can tell the story throughout the film. These facial expressions are necessary, especially since some of the film has foreign languages spoken and no subtitles to accompany. The rest of the cast similarly act powerfully, supporting Hanks's main character and adding to the overall film quality. With acting like this, the film flies until the ending. Like most Spielberg endings, this one comes off a bit cheesy as it revolves many of the previous issues in the film. Still though, the whole movie is worth seeing.
The Bottom Line: This film is very Spielberg-esque with its strong acting, fitting score, and overly family-friendly ending.
Score: 9.5/10
