The true story of a British businessman
unwittingly recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in
history. Forming an unlikely partnership with a Soviet officer hoping to
prevent a nuclear confrontation, the two men work together to provide the
crucial intelligence used to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Director: Dominic Cooke
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze,
Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley, Angus Wright
Release Date:
Genre: Thriller
Rated PG-13 for violence, partial nudity,
brief strong language, and smoking throughout
Runtime: 1 h 52 min
Review:
The Courier is a throwback cold war spy
thriller that hits nearly all the right marks.
Dominic Cooke directs his film with an efficient fun energy especially
in opening sequences before slowing into more direct drama. Cooke’s film never feels overbearing or
stuffy which many of these types of films tend to feel like. Benedict Cumberbatch carries the film with an
impressive everyman turn that’s grounded and believable. Cumberbatch makes his character incredibly
likable from the first time he appears onscreen, as such you are emotionally
invested in his journey. Merad Ninidze
is equally effective at engaging the audience with a steely turn as the brave
Soviet officer who’s providing the intelligence. Ninidze makes his character more than just a
one note character making him more nuanced with real depth. When Ninidze and Cumberbatch share the screen
you get a real sense of their characters respect and admiration which serves as
the lifeblood of the film. Rachel
Brosnahan, playing a composite CIA character, makes the best of her limited
screen time with her tangible strength the film would have been served well to
have given her a bit more to do.
Likewise Jessie Buckley is solid when she’s give time but her character
isn’t given much to do. Still, The
Courier works primarily due to strong direction and excellent turns from the
two leads as a old school spy film.
A-
