Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies (2015) (Tom Hanks)

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

The biggest thing is the way it purposefully makes the main characters out to be pretty daft and inept, while simultaneously sympathisizing with the terrorists. War of the Worlds pretty much did the same thing (the alien tripods being analagous to invading Americans, and Tom Cruise becoming a kind of terrorist), so the two movies together was pretty much like Spielberg contorting the stories around to convey his personal (left-wing) views on the war on terror, and it was pretty much all saying that Americans are evil and terrorists are good.

That's the strangest interpretation of both "Munich" and "War of the Worlds" that I've ever read.

If anything, the alien tripods were the terrorists and Tom Cruise was the resistance, but even that is pushing it. Remember, it was all based on H.G. Wells' novel, which was originally published in serialized form in 1897 and preceded even World War I. There doesn't have to be any politics in a story in which aliens invade and humans resist. What's political about that?

As for "Munich", there were criticisms of the film, but if you don't show the Israelis as 100% right and the terrorists as 100% wrong, there will be criticism. That doesn't mean that Spielberg was taking a political position. It means he was accurately conveying what the protagonist (Avner) felt. I can assure you that Spielberg is a strong supporter of Israel, for better or for worse.

[Darth Marcus]

New Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Film Titled ‘Bridge of Spies,’ John Williams Confirmed to Score

New Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Film Titled ‘Bridge of Spies,’ John Williams Confirmed to Score
Posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 by Russ Fischer

The new Steven Spielberg film, which reunites the director with star Tom Hanks, was referred to early on as the “Untitled Cold War Thriller,” and then shot under the title St. James Place. But when released in theaters, the movie will be called Bridge of Spies — a more colorful title, to be sure, and one which has its own place in cold war history.

Additionally, John Williams has been confirmed to provide the score for the film, marking the latest collaboration in his long-running partnership with Spielberg.

The title was first confirmed by producer Marc Platt, in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian. He simply said “I have a film directed by Steven Spielberg starring Tom Hanks coming out called Bridge of Spies.”

And John Williams fan site JWFN.com has confirmed with the composer’s agency that he will write the score to this film, making it his 27th collaboration with Steven Spielberg.

The film’s title refers to a real bridge that links the outer reaches of former West Berlin to the city center of Potsdam, previously under the control of East Germany. It was dubbed the “bridge of spies” in the ’60s as American and Soviet intelligence organizations performed prisoner exchanges on its expanse.

Officially named the Bridge of Unity, it was eventually re-named Glienicke Bridge in the mid-’80s. The bridge has been seen in other films, and Spielberg’s production used it as a location for this movie.

The film tells the story of the first prisoner exchange on the bridge that led to its colloquial name, as it follows attempts by lawyer James Donovan (Hanks) to negotiate the release of pilot Francis Gary Powers after his plane was shot down in the Soviet Union.

Bridge of Spies was originally written by Matt Charman, with rewrites by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. The cast also features Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan, Alan Alda and Eve Hewson. It will be released by Disney’s Touchstone banner on October 16, 2015.

[klauswhereareyou]

Wonder if Williams is going to score this before or after The Force Awakens?

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

New Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks Film Titled ‘Bridge of Spies,’ John Williams Confirmed to Score

Williams will score it? I never could have guessed.

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Williams will score it? I never could have guessed.

Well, he is 83. You've got to wonder how many film scores he has left in him.

[MechaGodzilla]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

Well, he is 83. You've got to wonder how many film scores he has left in him.

Yeah, that is true. But from the videos I saw him in when it was announced he'd score The Force Awakens, he seemed to be perfectly "clear" mentally at least. He's getting up there in age, but I'm not extremely worried about him yet.

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

Yeah, that is true. But from the videos I saw him in when it was announced he'd score The Force Awakens, he seemed to be perfectly "clear" mentally at least. He's getting up there in age, but I'm not extremely worried about him yet.

I know there were concerns about him physically being able to make the trip to London to score Star Wars, which he was able to do. I don't think his mental health has ever been in question, just mainly him being physically capable of doing work. Like you said, so far everything's fine. I just dread the day when I wake up and I know I won't hear any new John Williams music.

[DisneyBlu]

Spielberg + Hanks + Williams = me being a happy camper. My favorite director, favorite actor, and favorite composer. Very excited to see this.

[SMFT]

Have to admit, I wasn't that excited until I read the Coen brothers were doing the script. Would have preferred a WW2 movie, but we'll see how this one goes.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by SMFT

Have to admit, I wasn't that excited until I read the Coen brothers were doing the script. Would have preferred a WW2 movie, but we'll see how this one goes.

I'm wary of Coen rewritten scripts, considering how Gambit and Unbroken turned out.

[Darth Marcus]

Bridge of Spies to Be Scored By Thomas Newman

Steven Spielberg’s Dramatic Thriller Titled Bridge of Spies
BY CS ON MARCH 18, 2015

DreamWorks Pictures’/Fox 2000 Pictures’ upcoming dramatic thriller directed by three-time Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List) and starring two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia), has been titled Bridge of Spies. In addition, 12-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Saving Mr. Banks) has been signed to score the film, as John Williams’ schedule was interrupted and he was unavailable to score the film due to a minor health issue, now corrected.

A dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events, Bridge of Spies tells the story of James Donovan (Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on the near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Screenwriters Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen have woven this remarkable experience in Donovan’s life into a story inspired by true events that captures the essence of a man who risked everything and vividly brings his personal journey to life. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, 2015.

Williams, whose credits include Stars Wars: The Force Awakens and the “Harry Potter” films, will join Spielberg on his next film, The BFG, beginning later this year, continuing their unprecedented collaboration which they have enjoyed for over 40 years.

Newman has scored many films for DreamWorks, including The Help, Road to Perdition and American Beauty, the latter two for which he received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score.

Bridge of Spies also stars three-time Tony Award winner Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, a KGB agent defended by Donovan; Scott Shepherd as CIA operative Hoffman; Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan as James’ wife, Mary; Sebastian Koch as East German lawyer Vogel; and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda as Thomas Watters, a partner at Donovan’s law firm.

Fox 2000 Pictures co-financed Bridge of Spies with DreamWorks in association with Participant Media, and will distribute internationally. Disney will handle domestic distribution. In addition to directing, Spielberg will produce the film with Marc Platt and Kristie Macosko Krieger, with Adam Somner, Daniel Lupi, Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Matt Charman and three-time Academy Award winners Ethan Coen & Joel Coen.

Bummer. Glad Williams is ok.

Can mods change the title of the thread to Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies - Starring Tom Hanks (2015)?

[klauswhereareyou]

Newman seems like a good fit for this kind of film. Can't stand his Skyfall music, but I think he's good with drama.

[spawningblue]

I didn't know what this was about until now, and I have to admit, I'm not really that interested anymore. I thought it was going to a little more action oriented like Munich or something, as opposed to a court room drama.

[Monterey Jack]

Wow...first Spielberg film sans John Williams since Color Purple thirty years ago. Newman is a talented composer, and I'm sure he'll come up with a fine score for this, but still, something will be missing.

[spiderfan1985]

Okay. I read the thread title and misunderstood it on the outside as some snarky comment like "again with Tom Hanks?" He's only made three with the dude in his luxuriously vast and varied career. But now I see the full title and it says "Yet Another Spielberg film in the works, this time with Tom Hanks." Now I get the meaning. He's added another to a pretty busy plate, much like Guillermo del Toro recently (seriously, does the guy have time for anything else like sleeping?), but now he has Tom Hanks attached to one of them. Apparently. I'm game.

[DisneyBlu]

Poster:

[Blu Ian]

Give me a trailer already dammit

[spectre08]

Spielberg?

[Jasonic]

Originally Posted by spectre08

Spielberg?

[Show spoiler]

Seriously though, need that trailer. Can't wait for this.

[spectre08]

Originally Posted by Jasonic

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[Show spoiler]http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/bcga.gif[/img]

Seriously though, need that trailer. Can't wait for this.

don't get me wrong, Spielberg is a talented man, one of the best. But all of these "big name" directors are just meh. Flashy and tight, but no style, no heart. Fun to watch, but ultimately soulless.

Watching a Spielberg/Cameron/Scott film is like going out to Ruth's Chris for a steak. Yeah, it's going to be delicious, and it's going to be a good cut of meet. But is it going to be as unique and memorable as going to a smaller chef-owned restaurant?