Bridge of spies is a 2015 historical drama film directed and coproduced by steven spielberg, written by matt charman and the coen brothers, and starring tom hanks, mark rylance, amy ryan, and alan alda. Find out where bridge of spies is streaming, if bridge of spies is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. Solid storytelling and atmospherics director steven spielberg with some help from script polishers joel and ethan coen brings echoes of our own modern day to the cold war. In a dramatic thriller inspired by true events, tom hanks stars as james donovan. The british author of a book called bridge of spies is suing studios behind the oscarnominated steven spielberg movie of the same name in a dispute over use of the title. Bridge of spies quotes showing 128 of 28 christmas 1961 was not a good time to be in jail as a spy in the eastern bloc. Opening in 1957, when the cold war was atomically hot, bridge of spies offers up a world of shadows and the men who haunt them for country, company as in c. The film, unlike the sides involved in the cold war, immediately puts all of its cards on the table, but in a manner thats showy without ever being melodramatic. A feelgood cold war melodrama, bridge of spies is an absorbing truelife espionage tale very smoothly handled by old pros who know what theyre doing. Bridge of spies is a thrilling true story of espionage and superpower diplomacy at one of the tensest moments of the cold war, centered around a prisoner exchange in berlin in 1962. Oct 16, 2015 opening in 1957, when the cold war was atomically hot, bridge of spies offers up a world of shadows and the men who haunt them for country, company as in c. Bridge is based on a true story in which lawyer james donovan portrayed by mr. This is the fourth film that spielberg and hanks have made together not counting their hbo world war ii miniseries but bridge of spies might have closer ties to two other spielberg films.
Bridge of spies by michael sragow on october 14, 2015 youd never know from watching bridge of spies that its hero, james b. If youre looking for a book that follows the movie. Steven spielbergs bridge of spies a family story the boston globe. There are no major surprises or splashy special effects in bridge of spies, the latest historical drama from former blockbuster maven steven spielberg. After working as a spy in america for approximately ten years, abel had become unhappy with his assistant over his drinking, arguing with his wife, and hiring of prostitutes. Directed by steven spielberg, bridge of spies is based on the true story of the 1960 u2 incident. At the start of the film, as a partner in a new york law firm, donovan specializes. And since bridge of spies is distributed by walt disney studios, the movie should be heading to epix before anywhere else, since it was released in. Jan 05, 2012 the movie bridge of spies starring tom hanks is very different than the book bridge of spies by giles whittell. Bridge of spies is a hugely entertaining cold war tale. Bridge of spies plus bonus features in a dramatic thriller inspired by true events, tom hanks stars as james donovan, a brooklyn lawyer 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 u2 pilot.
Steven spielbergs bridge of spies and the role our. The dramatic events behind the oscarwinning film, bridge of spies, tracing the paths leading to the first and most legendary prisoner exchange between east and west at berlins glienicke bridge and checkpoint charlie on february 10, 1962. The bridge of spies true story reveals that it was abels assistant, reino hayhanen, who alerted u. During the cold war, an american lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested soviet spy in court, and then help the cia facilitate an exchange of the spy for the soviet captured american u2 spy plane pilot, francis gary powers. Solid storytelling and atmospherics director steven spielberg with some help from script polishers joel and ethan coen brings echoes of. Spielberg directed bridge of spies from a script originally penned by british.
Principal photography on bridge of spies began in september 2014, and shot. Bridge of spies movie tv listings and schedule tv guide. Oct 16, 2015 this is the fourth film that spielberg and hanks have made together not counting their hbo world war ii miniseries but bridge of spies might have closer ties to two other spielberg films. Donovan, as played by tom hanks and depicted by steven spielberg in bridge of spies, is no angel. An audiobook version was subsequently published by isis publishing, being read by. Spielbergs airtight bridge of spies the new yorker. Feb 23, 2016 and since bridge of spies is distributed by walt disney studios, the movie should be heading to epix before anywhere else, since it was released in 2015, back when the premium cable network still. It was directed by steven spielberg from a screenplay by matt charman and the coen brothers. An adaptation of internationally acclaimed author deon meyers crime novel, trackers, shot entirely in south africa.
Bridge of spies quotes by giles whittell goodreads. Oct 14, 2015 the exchange depicted in bridge of spies and made possible by donovans work is the first and most famous one to have taken place there. Sep 29, 2015 bridge of spies in theaters october 16. Tom hanks tackles the cold war in first trailer for steven. Bridge of spies has a brassy and justified confidence in its own narrative flair. Bridge of spies is a cold war spy movie based on the true story of an exchange of american and soviet spies. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters whose fate helped to define the conflicts and lethal undercurrents of the. Spielberg is reportedly directing a film version of roald dahls childrens book the bfg as well as a movie adaptation of ernest clines science. Fritz bauer the gambler who am i tannod stalingrad green book.
Bridge of spies is midlevel spielberg, which still means it would be an alevel picture for 99% of all working filmmakers today. It was cold outside, miserable inside, and godless everywhere. The american and soviet governments used the bridge to make exchanges of captured spies, since it was heavily guarded and closed to the public. Bridge of spies 2015 pg 142 min drama, history, thriller. Gary powers, the american u2 pilot who was captured when his plane was shot down. In the movie, the storyline centers around james donovan tom hanks. Bridge of spies, out in the uk in november, tells the true story of the secret cold war negotiations that eventually led to the east german release of two americans on a. Bridge of spies book author sues over rights to title of. Spielberg thriller bridge of spies turns into a legal drama as it is understood book author believes he has not been adequately compensated. Unfortunately, spielbergs latest will not feature contributions by the iconic composer john williams, who was forced to pass on the gig due to a minor health issue one which has now been treated williams is, however, now confirmed to score. Gifts of civility small and large mark steven spielbergs latest film, a deeply satisfying cold war spy thriller that feels more subdued than usual for the directoreven more so than 2012s philosophical lincolnbut one that shapes up expertly into a john le carrestyle nailbiter. Whittells book was published in 2010 and carries the.
A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, dreamworks picturesfox 2000 pictures bridge of spies tells the story. Steven spielbergs bridge of spies 2015 movie trailer 3 stars eve hewson, alan alda. Set during the cold war, the film tells the story of lawyer james b. Bridge of spies also serves a reunion for spielberg and hanks, as this marks the fourth time the oscarwinning actor will work with the director. Bridge of spies, suffragette, show me a hero, and more by ryan fujitani february 1, 2016 comments lots of new releases hit the home video market this week, including an oscarnominated steven spielberg film, a much talkedabout period piece about womens voting rights, and another acclaimed series from hbo, among other. The film is actually based in part on the book strangers on a bridge by james b.
Finally seeing it, i realized pretty quickly why it was flying under the radar. Tom hanks stars in bridge of spies, directed by steven spielberg, nominated for six academy awards. Gary powers, the american u2 pilot who was captured when his plane was shot down while. William fisher, alias rudolf abel, a britishborn kgb agent arrested by the fbi in new york city and jailed as a soviet superspy for trying to steal americas most precious nuclear secrets. The book documents prisoner exchanges between the united states and the soviet union of their spies during the cold war. Oct 09, 2015 bridge of spies is midlevel spielberg, which still means it would be an alevel picture for 99% of all working filmmakers today. Watch bridge of spies movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. Willie fisher, alias rudolf abel, was a soviet spy in the finest traditions of the bolshevik illegals named in comparison to legals, who had diplomatic cover as. Whether youre pumped for homeland or the conclusion of the affair, showtimes got your january drama covered.
Donovan, was a commander in naval intelligence during world war ii, and as general counsel to americas wartime spy service, the office of strategic services oss, helped frame guidelines for the creation. While the book shares the same name as the 2015 film that stars tom hanks, the film is not based on whittells book. Donovan, who is entrusted with negotiating the release of francis gary powersa u. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters whose fate helped to define the conflicts and lethal undercurrents of the most dangerous years of the cold war.
And since bridge of spies is distributed by walt disney studios, the movie should be heading to epix before anywhere else, since it was released in 2015, back when the premium cable network still. I knew it was coming out this year, but kept forgetting, didnt really even know what it was about, and had only seen the trailer a couple of times. Bridge of spies on showtime anytime stream on demand. Bridge of spies is a well acted, thrilling, smart cold war drama that features a oscar worthy performance from tom hanks. A list of titles available for home viewing on videoondemand and netflix, amazon prime, hbo now and hulu, beginning the week of friday, feb. A true story of the cold war is a 2010 nonfiction book by giles whittell. An audiobook version was subsequently published by isis publishing, being read by jonathan keeble. The title of the book and the film refers to the nickname of the glienicke bridge, which connected potsdam in east germany and west berlin during the cold war. Bridge of spies movie clip act of war 2015 tom hanks. Jun 05, 2015 spielberg directed bridge of spies from a script originally penned by british. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters william fisher, alias rudolf abel, a british born kgb agent arrested by the fbi in new york city and jailed as a soviet superspy for trying to steal americas most precious nuclear secrets.
Both the whittell book and the film are based on the same events, though the book focuses on three prisoners that are part of the exchange process, where the film focuses on donovan himself. Feb 12, 2016 the british author of a book called bridge of spies is suing studios behind the oscarnominated steven spielberg movie of the same name in a dispute over use of the title. Oct 07, 2015 actor tom hanks and director steven spielberg are teaming up again for the upcoming film bridge of spies. The exchange depicted in bridge of spies and made possible by donovans work is the first and most famous one to have taken place there. The movie bridge of spies starring tom hanks is very different than the book bridge of spies by giles whittell. Directed by steven spielberg, bridge of spies is a dramatic thriller which tells the story of james donovan played by tom hanks. He plays up his own marketability as well, noting a long list of mainstream media outlets that have written about him. Bridge of spies is a movie that basically flew under the radar. A brooklyn attorney enters into intense negotiations for the release of american pilot gary powers after his spy plane is downed by the soviets. The book documents prisoner exchanges between the united states. During the cold war, an american lawyer is recruited to defend an arrested soviet spy in court, and then help the cia facilitate an exchange of the spy for the soviet captured.
Tom hanks and steven spielberg reteam for the directors new movie, a truelife espionage tale that premiered at the new york film festival. Bridge of spies tells the true story of a cold war spy swap, during the height of tension between the u. A feelgood cold war melodrama, bridge of spies is an. Bridge of spies writer matt charman has partnered with clooneys smokehouse pictures for the eightpart limited series. Oct 12, 2015 bridge of spies is a movie that basically flew under the radar. A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, the film 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 the nearimpossible task to negotiate the release of a captured american u2 pilot. Amy ryan and domenick lombardozzi both appeared in hbos the wire 2002. Spielberg talks about his new film, bridge of spies, the basedonfact story of james donovan, a new york lawyer, played by tom hanks. Donovan, a lawyer involved with the prisoner exchanges and played by hanks in the film. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Bridge of spies, truth, the last witch hunter, freeheld, the visit sean axmaker is a seattle film critic and writer. Actor tom hanks and director steven spielberg are teaming up again for the upcoming film bridge of spies. Riveting, meticulously researched and beautifully written, bridge of spies unlocks one of the most fascinating espionage mysteries of the cold war ben macintyre, author of agent zigzag and sas rogue heroes bridge of spies is a gripping, entertaining, hairraising and comical story, which moves effortlessly from the.
The movie represents only a very small portion of the book. Page writes that the book will be ripe for a film adaptation, since it will merge the most compelling elements of films like syriana, bridge of spies, and hbo s game change. Jan 01, 2011 the movie bridge of spies starring tom hanks is very different than the book bridge of spies by giles whittell. It stars tom hanks as james donovan and mark rylance as rudolph abel. Dec 30, 2015 bridge of spies the rule book david atherton. As steven spielbergs bridge of spies, starring tom hanks, hits theaters today, were taking a look at the thrilling reallife events and people that inspired the movie. William fisher, alias rudolf abel, a british born kgb agent arrested by the fbi in new york city and jailed as a soviet superspy for trying to steal americas most. The movies title shares its name with a nonfiction book by giles whittell. Mar 18, 2015 bridge of spies also serves a reunion for spielberg and hanks, as this marks the fourth time the oscarwinning actor will work with the director. Bridge of spies is an engrossing account of a reallife. Bridge of spies is midlevel spielberg, which means. Bridge of spies is the true story of three extraordinary characters.
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