Steven Spielberg's latest film “Bridge of Spies,” starring Tom Hanks, is based on a true story and takes place at the height of the Cold War. Time Warner Cable News’ Neil Rosen filed the following review.

The time is the 1950s, and the United States and Russia are in the midst of a nuclear arms race and American citizens are nervous.

When Rudlof Abel, a Soviet spy played by Mark Rylance, is captured in Brooklyn, there is a rush to judgment by the public to send this man to his death as quickly as possible. However, this being the good old USA, he is entitled to a trial.

Enter insurance lawyer James Donovan, played by Tom Hanks, who's given the unenviable task of defending this man

Even though the outcome of the trial is sort of a fait accompli from the start, Donovan does manage to avoid the death penalty for Abel. He cleverly points out to the judge that keeping Abel alive might be useful one day in a trade with the Soviets. And that's exactly what happens when an American pilot, doing surveillance work, is shot down and captured over Russia. Donovan is enlisted to go to Berlin and negotiate the trade.

Hanks turns in a solid performance, injecting the character with the charming everyman qualities and light humor that we have come to expect from this actor. However, it is the brilliant stage actor Mark Rylance who steals the show. Given little dialogue, he makes the most of every word and his subtle gestures manage to evoke empathy.

Spielberg's attention to 1950s period detail is spot on. Plus, he takes an old fashioned, Capraesque approach to the material.

But it's the by the numbers screenplay by Mark Charman and the Coen Brothers, of all people, that could have used more subtlety. The scene construction and dialogue, particularly near the end, is disappointingly obvious.

Still, it's the engaging acting and expert direction that manages to rise well above any of the scripts deficiencies. The result is an entertaining courtroom drama and spy thriller that also offers up fine civics, justice and history lessons along the way.

Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:

Three Apples