By Joseph Burch
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Historical films are nothing new for director Steven Spielberg. In his most recent film, “Bridge of Spies,” we see more of his historical storytelling.
The film’s historical accuracy is reflected in the sets and costume designs, which heighten the quality of modern period pieces.
Based on a true story, “Bridge of Spies” follows James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks), a New York lawyer, during the Cold War. He is tasked with the unpopular job of defending accused Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance).
The film also retells the story behind the 1960 U-2 incident involving pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell), who ends up in Soviet hands after being shot down.
The screenplay intertwines both stories, as Donovan goes against all odds to save Abel, an innocent student named Powers and Frederic Pryor, who are all caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The first half of the story is by far the best. Spielberg shows us that war is more than just good versus evil. He illustrates that Abel is just a man doing his job, similar to Donovan.
Everything after the first half of the film begins to feel unfocused and sluggish.
It becomes hard to care about the struggle to retrieve Powers due to a lack of motivation from Donovan. To make matters worse, there are next to no likable qualities in Powers. This takes a lot away from the climax of the film.
Hanks’s ability to show intense emotion without saying a word makes for a strong performance despite the issues found in the film.
Similarly, Rylance’s portrayal of Abel is a standout in the film.
Another noticeable quality in “Bridge of Spies” is Janusz Kaminski’s beautiful cinematography. From the brilliant first shot of Abel painting himself while glancing into a mirror to the great bridge scene, Kaminski crafts incredibly meaningful images.
The well-acted and beautifully shot scenes are intensified when Thomas Newman’s score plays behind each scene. These are the moments that “Bridge of Spies” was at its best.
Despite all of the powerful aspects, the poorly written screenplay is hard to escape.
Small moments of comedy fell flat and lack of focus coupled with predictability weighed down the entire film.
When the credits finally rolled, I was wholly underwhelmed and wishing for something more.
It is in no way Spielberg’s best film, but great cinematography, score and acting save “Bridge of Spies” from mediocrity.