This is a fascinating two-plus hours for anyone interested in the Cold War years. America is still a land of innocence and black-or-white idealism: the American way of life is perfect, Communism is evil. It’s 1958, and when prominent insurance attorney James Donovan (Tom Hanks) is picked for the pro bono defense of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, he gets to see the enormous gray areas of both democracy and socialism. Much of the action takes place in post-war East Berlin, just as the wall is going up, and it is filmed in an appropriately dingy, cold and gray manner. Hanks is very appealing as the lawyer whose principles can’t be shaken by anything: not by irrational Eastern Bloc wheeling and dealing, or the clandestine intransigence of the CIA or the indignant wrath of his co-workers and other fellow New Yorkers. This is a tale based on true events, and it’s fascinating to learn at the end of the film what happened to the key characters as they continued their lives beyond 1960.
Should You See It? Yes, absolutely, as Spielberg attempted to give us as truthful a view of 1958-60 America as one can in a couple of hours. —D.W.
Viewed at Chase Park Plaza Cinemas
