Lately however, I must admit Spielberg has become grounded in the choice of story he wants to make compared to twenty or thirty years ago when he was making popcorn blockbusters. He seems to be more interested to slow-paced biopics or fictional dramas such as Munich, War Horse and Lincoln. Nevertheless, they are very good and highly recommend. But I think people are still expecting another Indiana Jones, E.T. or Jurassic Park.
We might see that return in the next few years with 'The B.F.G' and 'Ready Player One' currently in the works. But right now, we get to see a Cold War drama with a stellar cast.
I try not to sound arrogant, but it was as expected. A slow-burning drama with great performances that is more about the character development than the popcorn action of his most notable films. That being said, it is high-quality film making. It might instantly look like a Spielberg film, but it certainly shows glimpses of his vintage magic. In short you could call it a 'quiet sleeper', but with a bit more charm to it.
That is thanks to the terrific performances. Lead by Tom Hanks, who was on top form as per usual. There have been two actors that do it for me every time, Hanks is one, and the other is the late great James Stewart. Hanks has that likable touch no mater who is playing and is this generations Stewart.
Leading the supportive roles by a country mile was Mark Rylance. You don't see him often in movie roles, but when he does appear it is certainly not to be missed. His performance was both subtle and dignified, and will certainly be in the running in the major awards.
A lot of the film may not make you think of Spielberg, but the director still gives a beautifully crafted drama. You can see how hard he is still trying in make more great films rather than just taking the pay cheque and making a half-hearted attempt.
The cinematography is incredibly atmospheric that reminded me of Lincoln, the script is sharp very universal which will hopefully keep the mainstream audiences in their seats and Thomas Newman's score matches the mood. But it does hint towards sugar-coating the image which gives it minor down-grade in terms of the enjoyment of it.
One minor negative that I would like to mention is more to do with marketing rather than the film itself. The title may suggest an 'espionage James Bond' type of film. But it is more of a court room/politicial drama. That could put some general cinema-goers under a false sense of security and feel bored by this. I hope that does not happen and this become a success, which it deserves to be.
Despite giving it a lot of praise, I think this is another one of Spielberg's latest films that I cannot see myself watching again, or least not anytime soon. Saying that is never always a bad thing. Great films do not always have that re-watchability factor. A great example is Schindler's List. It is definitely one of the greatest films of all-time. But many people only see that once every few years compared to Jurassic Park where you can see this more than once in a year.
It's not your popcorn blockbuster that you are used to with Spielberg. It has a heavy use of dialogue and its more about the characters rather than being all-out action.
All in all, this is very well-made with some performances that are worth the admission fee. It shows real humanity during one of the intense times of the 20th century. If you're looking for something that quietly moves along with interesting character development, then this is the film for you. It might not be Spielberg stretching his powers, but it is certainly another major success.
Rating: 8/10
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