The film "Spy Bridge" has all the prerequisites to become mega-popular: a famous director, a non-trivial plot on the topic of the day, plus an excellent cast. Admirers of Tom Hanks applauded the opportunity to once again contemplate his idol on the screen, and even in such a vital role.
Only two central figures and about twenty minor ones took part in the filming of a historical drama based on real Cold War events, entitled "Spy Bridge". Actors and roles were chosen by director Spielberg very carefully. For example, 300 people tried on the image of Ivan Shishkin until they found Gorevoy. And no wonder: in addition to a brilliant acting, you had to have a typical Slavic appearance, and even speak English fluently.
The Spy Bridge Movie (actors and roles): James Donovan
Tom Hanks played the successful Brooklyn insurance lawyer, who was assigned to defend Rudolf Abel, suspected of spying for the USSR.
Donovan is a typical American (the image is slightly idealized), striving to do the right thing in everything, with regard to both legal and moral issues. During the judicial investigation, he is imbued with sympathy and respect for his client and defends his rights with the same stubbornness with which he once participated in the Nuremberg trials. By demonstratively appointing a lawyer for the spy, the US government only wanted to demonstrate its humanity and democracy, they say that in America they do not kill without trial and investigation, although the outcome of the case was clear to everyone. Despite the fact that the role of a lawyer was formal, for show, Donovan reacted to Abel without a drop of prejudice. In addition, he raised the question of whether one can be judged for honestly fulfilling a duty to his country. The government decided to take advantage of James’s ability to persuade and sent him to Berlin on an unofficial mission to agree on an exchange of prisoners.
Fundamental, not compromising, with sparkling humor, able to be unshakable even in the most stressful situations - all those qualities that a real prototype of a character possessed, and Hanks brilliantly managed to convey this in the film "Spy Bridge". The actors and the roles they performed had to match each other to the maximum. This is exactly what Spielberg sought, so Hanks was approved without any doubt. In addition, they already had many joint projects that have become masterpieces.
Mark Rylance as Rudolph Abel
He played his character very worthily. "Steadfast man" - that’s how this scout voiced his position in life. He did not cooperate with the FBI, did not give out military secrets. On his face, even in the most tense minutes, there was an amazing calm. Even realizing that they would settle accounts with him at home, he not without resistance sits in the back seat of the car on the bridge.
"Spy Bridge": actors and supporting roles
For Spielberg, the priority was always the artist’s ability to get used to the image. According to the director of the drama "Spy Bridge", the actors and the roles they performed should have been a single whole. To do this, Amy Ryan, who played the wife of James, a strong-willed and self-sufficient woman, specifically met with her granddaughter Mary Donovan, so that she would talk more about her grandmother.
Scott Shepherd was invited to the role of Hoffmann, a straightforward CIA officer, and Sebastian Koch played the irritable and hypocritical lawyer Wolfgang Vogel from East Germany. Also, the cast was supplemented by Alan Alda, Mark Rylance, Billy Magnussen, Domenic Lombardozzi, Yves Hewson, Austin Stowell.
For a very long time they were looking for the performer of the role of Ivan Shishkin, the second secretary of the USSR Embassy in the GDR, who represented the Soviet government in the exchange negotiations. Casting was Michael Gorevoy, and this was his first experience in Hollywood.
The fans of Tom Hanks and the question does not arise whether it is worth watching the film "Spy Bridge". The plot, actors and roles undoubtedly deserve to set aside one evening for viewing. This picture very worthily shows both sides of the confrontation, the USA and the USSR, and teaches us that there are things more important than state borders.