All I really remember is the great contempt the public felt for Francis Gary Powers who was viewed by many as a traitor for getting caught and great contempt for President Eisenhower for ADMITTING that the U2 was a spy plane.
There are mny FReepers who are older than I and I would like to know what they remember. I admit that my access to the news was limited at the time and my attention was elsewhere, being a new bride and dealing with a new job{s}, a dying mother in law, a new home and then a surprise pregnancy. Did I miss all of this, or are my memories accurate? I am including a link to a professional review, but these words are all my own.
Thanks for the review.
Tom Hanks is a Jackass. Tom went Hollywood wacko years ago and I don’t care to see his movies anymore.
He’s done a few things that please me, but the vast majority of his views are vile.
The real problem with him, and it’s not just him, is being outspoken politically. It affects the way I view him in his movies and I cannot see him as any kind of actor anymore. Just an activist promoting his own agenda.
I don't remember that. But I was only ten at the time. I do remember reading the news about the plane being shot down and feeling sorry for Powers. I never heard any adults making disparaging comments about Powers. Of course, I wasn't around much adult conversation.
Bridge of Spies.
My review based on the title alone.
Four people sitting at a table playing cards doesn’t generally make for a good movie. But, “Bridge of Spies” adds, well, Spies. And when you consider the traditional alliances or “so-called” partners of North-South and East-West they aren’t very traditional after all. Spies and double agents are a natural fit that brings intrigue and intensity to a mostly boring game. Bidding for tricks while employing deception and double deception without ever being sure if you will be “Trumped” adds a refreshing political component and makes this movie a must see !!
The U2’s only defence was the altitude it could maintain. The problem was that if the engine flamed out—the lack of oxygen at such height would not permit a restart. The plane would have to lose altitude in order to restart—and at the lower altitude was vulnerable to a high-altitude missile which most likely brought the plane down.
The Russkies did show some condoms and a High-Standard .22 pistol the pilot had with him—but no “kill me” capsules if I remember the Life magazine photos correctly.
I remember the prisoner exchange, but not much else. As I recall, perhaps not correctly, I read the abridged story in Reader’s Digest during lengthy wait at the dentist’s office; it was a very gripping tale as I remember it.
I want to like this movie (haven’t seen it yet). But if there is one thing I’m tired of it’s Spielberg’s courtroom drama crap. Whether it was Amistad, or Lincoln and the passing of the 13th amendment. So when I watched the trailer and saw a good portion was about the trial of a Russian spy and how everyone hates him and his lawyer and the obligatory brick through a window this movie went down in my estimation. But I’ll still see it eventually.
I haven’t seen it, bit franchised Francis Powers soon spike to my reserves unit. He was a consultant on the film, but he did say they had to take artistic liberties to make it entertaining. He didn’t see the final movie when he spoke to us but he did share concern about it representing reality.
Also your memories are accurate. His son said he spent years righting the wrong impression of good father.
Haven’t seen the movie, however the words ‘Inspiredd by true events’ is a virtual guarantee that its contents are horse sh*t.
Most here and elsewhere too young to remember the not so cold, "Cold War." Disappointed to not see many young people in the theater. Mostly old dudes (like me). I was at Fulda Gap in the 60s. And elsewhere. Saw the Iron Curtain many times. Frightening then, and frightening now to think of it.
[snip]There are two marvelous themes at work in “Bridge of Spies.” The most prominent is a crucial reminder that regular, everyday American citizens are the only corrective measure against a government that almost always errors on the side of encroaching against our civil rights. The other, and this is spoken out loud in one of the film’s best moments, is that if you know you did the right thing, you shouldn’t worry about what others think of you.
Spielberg has come a long way since his moral monstrosity “Munich,” and his art is all the better for it. “Bridge of Spies” is Spielberg’s best film since 1993’s “Schindler’s List.”
Spoiler ... to some extent ... alert ...
Hanks: Good, but ... 'shut up and act'
I think they handled the Powers thing well. When he gets on the plan going home w/Hanks, he says 'I didn't tell them anything' .... Hanks says 'All that matters is what you know you did' ... I would say this left the impression that he talked.
There is some typical liberal hollywood BS like making Abel out to be a wonderful human being. Also, the insertion of whether 'enemy combatants have the right to due process' was clearly updated to reflect modern stuff, and frankly DID NOT WORK or make sense.
That said, it's not overly political, Hanks does a good job although I don't like him politically (again: shut up and act) ... I've also had to throw up in my mouth for thinking that Matt Damon and Johnny Depp did a good job in their craft of acting in Black Mass.
It's a quality flick, without too much politics inserted. It's not deep, it's a little slow ... but it's a good solid movie, and the guy that plays Abel does a great job - I think Tom Hanks does an OK job too - although he's a little like Nick Cage where you feel like you're watching the Nick Cage Movie rather than whatever movie it is ... it's gotten to be the same with Tom Hanks - always he's some ethically perfect sensitive guy. If I saw the same movie without The Spielberg name on it ... I might rate it less.
A for being solid and quality, B for story, A- for acting, B for fast moving.
Events are before my time and I don't know the history therefore accuracy. It SEEMED that Steve left the unknown to remain mostly unknown ... and wasn't trying to make a point - he really didn't overdo the Constitutional lawyer junk ... more like he just wanted to tell a good story.
Having watched the South Park Yelp episode this week, and not being someone who every writes reviews, I hope there will be no Bug... and cu... in my popcorn next time :-)
As a result I'll be giving this one a miss,as I do with 99.9% of the swill that comes out of Hollywood.
You trust Google?
I liked "The Martian" more.
I saw it Sunday.
A good movie with a great plot.
The plot is historically accurate,
but....
...the movie is a perfect example of how Hollywood puts a leftist spin on everything.
The communist spy (Abel) is portrayed as a likable character, even innocent. The Soviet negotiator - as a reasonable man. Meanwhile, Gary Powers is shown as a bumbling idiot. CIA and FBI agents are pig-headed and cold-hearted. Judge Byers is shown as being deeply corrupt and unreasonably uninterested in constitutional justice. And the citizens who want this spy put way are simply ugly.
It is an interesting topic and the movie is well worth the price of admission. But get ready for the left hook.