Bridge of Spies a Triumph for Spielberg and Hanks

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks four-film collaboration is one of the greatest director-actor partnerships in movie history.

Hanks’ ability to convey an all American dignity, wholesomeness and an understated heroism matched by Spielberg’s mastery of every aspect of moviemaking has informed films as diverse as WWII classic Saving Private Ryan (1998), colourful caper Catch Me If You Can (2002) and charming character comedy The Terminal (2004).

Now their fourth collaboration, Bridge Of Spies takes them into the cauldron of the Cold War as Hanks plays James B. Donovan, a US insurance lawyer recruited by the CIA to negotiate a swap between Russian spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) and US pilot Gary Powers (Austin Stowell).

Steven Spielberg says: “Somebody came to me and said, ‘Do you want to make a movie about Gary Powers being shot down above the Soviet Union in his U2?’ And that might have been enough for one whole movie. But Tom and I later found out that there was so much more to it than that. We came to realise that, as incredible as it might seem, these events really happened.”
Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

Also starring Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch and Alan Alda.

Amongst many very positive reviews in the US, New York Post reviewer Lou Lumenick says: “In Spielberg’s best film since Saving Private Ryan, his frequent collaborator Tom Hanks emerges as a strong Best Actor candidate for his flawless performance as James Donovan.”
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