Review :: Bridge of Spies out on Blu-ray 2/2

“Magnificent ★★★★★”

                                    — Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Steven Spielberg’s Critically Acclaimed Spy Thriller Starring Tom Hanks

Arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and Digital HD February 2, 2016

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, “Bridge of Spies” tells the story of James Donovan (Tom Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on a near impossible mission to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. High stakes and suspense power a story inspired by true events that capture the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

My husband and I had a chance to watch the movie this past weekend and really enjoyed it!  I am such a sucker for real-life events and stories and found The Bridge of Spies to be filled with action, good writing and storytelling.  Tom Hanks is a favorite of mine as he really can just do it all – from comedy to drama to thrillers, Tom Hanks draws you into this character’s emotions and the stressful situation he found himself in while negotiating with the Russians.  You will definitely be on the edge of your seat watching this movie!  And you have to remind yourself these events actually happened and James Donovan (Tom Hanks) really is quite amazing.  Written by the Ethan and Joel Coen and Matt Charman, this story takes you on a rather fist clenching journey of who will blink first type thriller.

CAST: Tom Hanks (Saving Mr. Banks, Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) as James Donovan, Mark Rylance (Wolf Hall, The Other Boleyn Girl) as Rudolf Abel, Amy Ryan (Birdman, Goosebumps) as Mary Donovan, Sebastian Koch (TV’s “Homeland,” The Danish Girl) as Wolfgang Vogel, Alan Alda as Thomas Watters (The Aviator, Crimes and Misdemeanors), Austin Stowell (Whiplash, TNT’s “Public Morals”), Mikhail Gorevoy (Die Another Day, BBC’s “Space Race”) as Ivan Schischkin and Will Rogers (A Good Marriage, The Bay) as Frederic Pryor.

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (Academy Award© winner for Best Director on Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List)

PRODUCERS: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt (Into The Woods) & Kristie Macosko Krieger (Lincoln)

WRITERS: Matt Charman (Suite Francaise), Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (Academy Award© winners for No Country for Old Men and Fargo)

Note: We were provided with a copy of Bridge of Spies but all opinions are our own.