By

Bridge of Spies

Thoroughly satisfying spy saga by Spielberg and the Coen Brothers

True story of James B. Donovan, the insurance lawyer tasked with making sure Russian spy Rudolf Abel got a fair trial (and deal with the ensuing odium for believing in the Constitution) and then with negotiating the 1962 swap of Abel for downed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers.

This unabashedly old-fashioned, slightly square, and thoroughly satisfying spy saga was meticulously crafted by Steven Spielberg (Capra meets Le Carré?), scripted by the Coen brothers, and stars Tom Hanks. What’s not to like? A high point for me was the magnificent, movie-anchoring, non-emotive performance by Mark Rylance as Abel. (141 min)