Watch Bridge of Spies

As a historical drama set during the Cold War, Bridge of Spies tells the true story of an American lawyer named James B. Donovan (played by Tom Hanks) who is called upon to defend a Soviet spy named Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance). Donovan is hesitant at first, fully aware of the public scrutiny and backlash he will receive for defending the enemy. However, his ethical values and obligation to his client convince him to take on the challenge.

As Donovan represents Abel in court, tension between the United States and Soviet Union escalate due to a U.S. Air Force spy plane named U-2 being shot down over Soviet territory. Furthermore, an American U-2 pilot named Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is captured by the Soviets and charged with espionage. In the midst of these political tensions, Donovan is given a task by the government to negotiate the exchange of Abel for Powers, setting the stage for an intense diplomatic game of cat and mouse.

Donovan travels to East Berlin, where he encounters hostile Soviet opposition and deception from his own government. Through his perseverance and savvy negotiation tactics, Donovan is able to get both Abel and Powers released in an intense prisoner exchange on the titular Bridge of Spies. Alongside these events, the film highlights the personal sacrifice Donovan made for his family and the cause of justice in defending Abel, as well as the shifting attitudes towards Soviet relations from the United States.

The film features incredible performances from its cast, particularly Tom Hanks as the principled and determined Donovan and Mark Rylance as the stoic and reserved Abel. The supporting cast, including Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, and Jesse Plemons, also deliver strong performances that aid in the historical authenticity and emotional stakes of the story.

Overall, Bridge of Spies is a must-watch film for historical and political enthusiasts, as well as fans of gripping drama and thrilling suspense. The film manages to balance the complexity of real-life political tensions with the human elements of the story, creating a captivating and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

Bridge of Spies is a 2015 thriller with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 81.