Steven Spielberg's fact-based Bridge of Spies is set during the Cold War, a time of extreme suspicion between the United States and the Soviet Union, against a backdrop of McCarthyism and Red Scare paranoia. A time when it seemed possible that anyone — your neighbors or co-workers — could be engaged in nefarious espionage.
So when an alleged Soviet spy (Mark Rylance) is captured, not everyone rushes to defend him. But at the behest of his government, Brooklyn insurance lawyer Jim Donovan (Tom Hanks), is tapped to provide the accused with an “honest” defense. Donovan is expected to roll over, but when he doesn't, he’s charged with an even more onerous duty — negotiating the release of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, shot down while flying a spy mission over the USSR. Dan Lybarger offers his thoughts in Friday's Style section.
We've also got Philip Martin filling us in on several film festivals, Karen Martin's weekly roundup of the best in home video and reviews of Crimson Peak, Goosebumps, Freeheld and more.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.