WHERE DO YOU STAND?
When I saw the trailer for Bridge of Spies (named for the bridge in Germany that was used to exchange hostage spies of one country with hostage spies of another) in the fall of 2015, I’ll admit it didn’t capture my interest. I knew it had something to do with the Cold War (which means Russia was somehow involved), I knew that it was based on a true story (so many movies seem to be these days), knew that the great Tom Hanks was in it and that he did something “lawyerly” (the trailer mentioned he was a insurance lawyer), that there was something about spies (the title gave that away) and that it was set in the 1950s. Doesn’t sound like a movie I’d get excited about, but. I could never have been more wrong.
The movie is currently playing in Canyon Meadows Cinemas in Calgary, and I decided to check it out this last week. In this endeavour to see as many movies up for Academy Awards as possible before the February 28th, I knew this was one I should see, even if it didn’t appeal to me.
First,
let it be said the viewer doesn’t need to be an expert on the Cold War to
follow this film; Stephen Spielberg (yes, he is the director) does a great job
of assuming his viewer doesn’t know much about the Cold War and easily fills in
the gaps with what you need to know, for as much as this movie is about the
Cold War, it isn’t about the Cold War. And it’s not a Rah-Rah-America movie
either, though it makes sense to expect that, too. This is not another war
movie with Tom Hanks playing another Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan, though people are saved. And, it kept me
intrigued until the end credits.
From
the beginning where the viewer can’t help but generate a plethora of questions
with the 27 minute non-dialogue/non-score start to the film, an elderly man
painting a self-portrait from a mirrored reflection, to the end and the final
pieces of information on where the four main characters went and what they did
after the time the movie covers. If anything, a comparison to Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird can be made, for,
like that classic, this is about standing for what you believe to be right, for
treating everyone with equality … ``Standing Man” in the story. Someone who is
not remarkable, but makes a difference in many lives because he stands for what
he believes is right. There is a court-room scene, very similar to To Kill A Mockingbird where each lawyer
makes a heartfelt plea for his client, prodding the consciousness of the judge,
court, and viewer, on what is most important at a moment like this. Apparently,
the words in the film are the same words the actual lawyer used that day.
Without
giving details of the movie away, Spielberg weaves a story set beautifully and
with an authentic feel in the 1950s but is relevant as much to today as to then,
when we also are fearful of people we don’t know and how we are to treat these
people that scare us. Set in a time when fear ruled people like you and me, the
viewer is drawn into a real story about real people who took a risk for what
they believed to be right. Bridge of
Spies is up for best picture, for screen play by the Cohn brothers (there
are genuine comic moments that will bring a smile or chuckle), and for Best
Supporting Actor for the little man who plays the Russian Spy. Not all of “us”
are the heros, not all of “them” are evil, barriers are built for reasons we
think are for protection. What we see might not always be as it seems. I read
someone thought that the movie went too long, but if it had stopped where this
person thought it should, an incredible scene of taking the “same elements” from
throughout the film and playing them against each other to bring out two very
powerful messages would not be there.
It is not
an action-packed movie, but it is one that holds the viewer’s interest. You
might learn a bit about that time in history, but you learn more about the
character of man, of what we do when we are put to the test. Some use their
power, some propagate fear, some run, some save their own hide, and some … some
stand firm in the face of rejection, of violence, with integrity and strength.
I left the movie reflecting on my
behavior in the face of fear, when I’m scared for future consequences, how do I
respond to them? (“Aren’t you scared?” Jim asks his client. “Would it help?”
the little man responds.) What do I think in my heart? It is as much what you
say to others as what you say to yourself, for it is these words that you speak
to your heart are the ones that really speak to true character. And you will
know whether you are a ‘standing man’ or not. I may have walked into the film
with not much enthusiasm, but I walked out, profoundly affected. I don’t know
if this movie will win any awards, but it is certainly worthy of them.
NOMINATED FOR:
- Best Motion Picture of the Year
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Mark Rylance
- Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score – Thomas Newman
- Best Achievement in Production Design
- Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
