BRIDGE OF SPIES Premieres At New York Film Festival

On Sunday, cast and filmmakers from DreamWorks Pictures dramatic thriller BRIDGE OF SPIES celebrated the film’s world premiere at Alice Tully Hall as part of the 53rd Annual New York Film Festival where they received a standing ovation.

One of the best films this year, BRIDGE OF SPIES stars Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch, Alan Alda, Austin Stowell, Mikhail Gorevoy and Will Rogers.

The first reviews came out this evening:

“It’s no small feat turning a shyster and a spy into national heroes, but that’s the unique achievement of Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies.” If Jimmy Stewart were alive today, the director surely would have asked him to play James Donovan, a noble New York insurance lawyer roped into providing an alleged Soviet agent with pro-bono legal representation, who later goes on to broker his exchange for two Americans held captive by Commies. Failing that, he’d done one better and cast honorary Boy Scout and all-around good guy Tom Hanks in the role, transforming a potential indictment of patriotic hypocrisy and Cold War subterfuge into a riveting, feel-good time for the whole family (two instances of the “F-word” notwithstanding), putting it on track to top “War Horse.”

Read Variety’s full review here.

The true standout in the film is Mark Rylance as Soviet Spy, Rudolf Abel.

Rylance, one of the greatest of contemporary stage actors, has to date had only an intermittent screen career, but Bridge of Spies suggests that could be about to change. He brings fascination and very, very subtle comic touches to a man who has made every effort to appear as bland, even invisible, as possible. The entire cast is engaging down the line.

Read The Hollywood Reporter’s review here.

It’s a classicist movie, made for adults, that dares to say there’s nothing unfashionable about the honorable man. Gregory Peck once wanted to make this based-on-a-true-story movie in the 1960s, and Spielberg’s effort feels crafted for that era, mixed with Billy Wilder’s heart and Howard Hawks’ sincerity.

Read The Playlist’s review here.

BRIDGE OF SPIES effectively demonstrates how sharp and entertaining Spielberg’s skill set can be. Especially when someone like Hanks, at the peak of his craft, is on board.

Read Awards Campaign’s review here.

You would expect a movie with the Coens, Spielberg, and Hanks names on it to be an instant contender for Oscars. Certainly, Bridge Of Spies is that and then some. This is prime Academy fodder and I think you can rightly expect it to be a major player in Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Actor, Supporting Actor (for the great Mark Rylance who plays Rudolf Abel, the spy in question), Thomas Newman’s score, editing, and cinematography from Spielberg regulars Michael Kahn and Janusz Kaminski respectively as well as top Production Design from Adam Stockhausen.

Read Deadline’s report here.

Cast and filmmakers in attendance included: director/producer Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Amy Ryan, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Austin Stowell, Billy Magnussen, Scott Shepherd, Sebastian Koch, screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen and Joel Coen, production designer Adam Stockhausen and costume designer Kasia Walicka Maimone.

Steven Spielberg introduces the cast as DreamWorks Pictures and Fox2000 Pictures present the “Bridge of Spies” world premiere at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York on October 4, 2015
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Mark Rylance, Austin Stowell, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Tom Hanks flank Director Steven Spielberg as DreamWorks Pictures and Fox2000 Pictures present the “Bridge of Spies” world premiere at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York on October 4, 2015
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Tom Hanks arrives as DreamWorks Pictures and Fox2000 Pictures present the “Bridge of Spies” world premiere at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York on October 4, 2015
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw arrive as DreamWorks Pictures and Fox2000 Pictures present the “Bridge of Spies” world premiere at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York on October 4, 2015
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Tom Hanks joins Steven Spielberg onstage as DreamWorks Pictures and Fox2000 Pictures present the “Bridge of Spies” world premiere at the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center in New York on October 4, 2015
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, DreamWorks Pictures/Fox 2000 Pictures’ BRIDGE OF SPIES is the story of James Donovan, a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot.

Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life.

The stellar production team includes director of photography Janusz Kaminski (“Saving Private Ryan”); production designer Adam Stockhausen (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”); costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone (“Foxcatcher”); editor Michael Kahn (“Lincoln”); and composer Thomas Newman (“Saving Mr. Banks”).

BRIDGE OF SPIES is in theaters on October 16, 2015.

bridgeofspies.com