by Cameron Tejeda | staff writer

Bridge of Spies is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Hanks. By now I think we all expect Spielberg’s films to be great (Jaws, Indiana Jones, E.T., Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan). The list goes on and on, and while Bridge of Spies probably won’t be a classic like the others, it’s still a very good film.

 Tom Hanks is such a great actor, and he once again delivers a wonderful performance. He plays a lawyer who has to defend a Russian spy during the Cold War. The film really goes beyond that though, as Hanks later has to negotiate an exchange between Russia and the United States: the Russian spy for a U.S. pilot. Early on in the film, Hanks has a bit of dialogue where he’s arguing a certain case. Right away we can tell that he knows what he’s doing, and that he is pretty good at his job. That leads me into the best, and most important aspect of the movie. The dialogue is so amazing! The majority of this film is talking and negotiating, but every conversation is interesting. If you want a lot of action out of a movie, then this isn’t the one for you. But if you want to watch a drama that is compelling and fascinating, then definitely check this movie out.

The only thing I can say that is sort of a negative, is that the rewatchability factor is pretty low. I don’t know if I could sit through this film again, just because it is kind of slow-paced. As far as camerawork goes, the film is shot perfectly. The cinematography is fantastic.

 Bridge of Spies is a very well crafted film, that continues to add to the legacy of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. It is a movie that should be watched if you like intriguing dialogue and just great filmmaking in general.

 My Rating: A