Bridge of Spies- That's HOW YOU NEGOTIATE

Tom Hanks and Spielberg come off the shelf to deliver another great and classic film. The movie follows the events surrounding the 1957 arrest of a Soviet "spy" Rudolf Abel and his defense by American insurance attorney James Donovan. Donovan accepts the momentous and VERY unpopular job of defending Abel in his case vs. America. Hanks fights for his release and also a reduced sentence after he is found guilty initially. His home is shot at and hostilities are everywhere while he does his job defending not only Abel, but the American justice system and human rights. Donovan is then, after going through the trial and appeal, asked to negotiate a prisoner exchange with Russia, and, out of nowhere, East Germany. It gets lost on most people who see the film how TENSE things were between Russia, East Germany, and America during these events. Russian and East Germany were demons. Communism was the ultimate evil and nuclear war was a threat to everyone. Donovan travels as a U.S. Citizen, not a government official, to West Germany to work on the negotiation to get back U-2 spy plane pilot Francis Gary Powers and innocent student Frederic Pryor, who simply made the mistake of studying Economics at a University in East Germany. Donovan's work to get a 2 for 1 exchange and get those American men out of communist countries was exemplary and impressive. It makes you want to read a biography on him when you find out all he gave to our nation in terms of a man who was willing to go into hostile areas and work to get our hostages back to safety. A great man. Bottom Line: 8. 4 out of 10. Great acting and, obviously directing in this one. Another gem of an untold story dusted off by Spielberg. Go see this movie and feel proud.