Bridge of Spies – Worry? Would it help? Standing Man!

I always
wanted to watch the Movie “Bridge of Spies”. After all it is Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks – two of the greatest directors and
actors of all time!
While I missed
the cinema screening, I managed to catch the movie on the plane during one of my
traveling trips this month.
Given the 59
year old Tom Hanks acting skills, it does not matter if the movie plot is slow-paced or even “boring”.
It is how Hanks mesmerizes and bring my emotions straight into his movie. 
From the classic
Forest Gump (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), Captain
Philips (2013) to Bridge of Spies (2015), I was always touched deep down!
Bridge of Spies
This time
it was no different. “Bridge of Spies”, a 140-minute long movie based on true
story set in the cold war period of 1960. Hanks cast as a lawyer trying to
negotiate for the release of two Americans in exchange for a Russian spy.
A movie
with lots of talking and self-reflections, yet relatively little action!  Maybe my wife may have fallen asleep from the
boredom? But not me, who enjoys History and was even touched to tears on few
occasions.
I will not
go through the details of movie here. While I was enchanted by many scenes, I
will like to recall two particular scenes, depicting the conversations between Hanks
(Lawyer James Donovan) and Mark Rylance (Russian spy – Colonel Rudolf Abel).
Stranding Man
Abel
recounts to Donovan about his father’s friend who was beaten repeatedly by
border guards.
“Every time they hit him, he stood back up
again…They hit him harder…still he got back to his feet.”  
Abel says.
Asked
Donovan, “And I remind you of him?”
Abel replies,
simply, “Standing man.”

source: youtube, Bridge of Spies Trailer

You not worry? Would it help?
Donovan and
Abel were at the Bridge for the prisoners’ exchange. Donovan asked Abel what
will happen after he is back to Russia.
Abel says “I acted honorary and I think they know that.
But sometimes people think wrong. People are people. Let’s see how they greet
me. If I am embrace or just shown the back seat?”
Donovan asked
“You not worry?”
Abel replied
“Would it help?”
Steven Spielberg’s conversation with his father
In fact
this movie is a reflection of Steven Spielberg’s memory when his father,
Arnold, an engineer with General Electric visited Soviet Union as part of the
peace program trip. At that time, the young Spielberg fear and hated the
Russian, but his father reassured him.
 “I saw
Communist Russia as the enemy, and my father saw Communist Russia as human
beings, who were just as scared of us as we were of them — that’s what my
father always said.”
– Steven Spielberg

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18 thoughts on “Bridge of Spies – Worry? Would it help? Standing Man!

  1. From Secret of Old Age slides:

    If worries can cure your sickness, then go ahead and worry.

    If worries can prolong your life, then go ahead and worry.

    If worries can exchange for happiness, then go ahead and worry.

    🙂

    1. Hi CW8888,

      yes yes yes. I went through the slides and already bookmarked it in my personal notes.

      The mind sometimes can be so strong, that it can determine if a sickness can heal or deteriorate.

  2. Watched it on flight as well. Very good movie. I admire the attention to details and wonder how they manage to get so many out of production cars to run in the movie scenes

    1. Hi My2cents,

      Yes, the focus on details were exceptional. Not just words but the expressions of the actors, esp Rylance's innocent look!

      The cars.. oh yes… after all it's Steven Spielberg who can make a dinosaurs come alive! So vintage cars shouldn't be too hard a nut for him to crack. 🙂

    1. Hi Ava,

      Yes. Rylance is the true unsung hero! Needing just few words to bring so much emotions out of me! Excellent movie!

  3. Hi Rolf,

    Wah, definitely have to catch this on the plane the next time! I love Tom Hanks' acting too.. but now, must catch Star Wars first, hehe.

    1. Hi Jes,

      Yeah… guess the movie screening of BOS is over. Watching on the plane is most sensible but need a flight one longer than 3h I think.

      Star Wars is the one to watch now. While I am not a big fan of Star Wars, I am sure I will not want to miss it.

  4. This content is written in highly in depth form and given at the right time! Fresh content.

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