Rent it on RedBox, Amazon, Google Play, and YouTube.
Cold War thrillers can often blend into each other because the vast majority of them tend to follow a similar pattern: an intelligence officer from one of the allied nations is trying to obtain information about Russia's nuclear arms program before the reckless powers that be get an itchy trigger finger. But what if the person who was just as responsible for preventing a nuclear holocaust wasn't an agent for any government but rather a simple civilian? That is the premise behind today's film, The Courier, the story of how one ordinary man played a significant role in The Cold War that you might not have known about before.
Set in the 1960s, the story follows Greville Winne (Benedict Cumberbatch), a British salesman approached by a friend from MI6 and a representative of the CIA with an unusual proposal. They reveal that a high-ranking Russian officer, Colonel Oleg Penkovski (Merag Ninidze), has contacted the CIA, offering information about Russia's nuclear arsenal and their "relationship" with Cuba. However, due to Russia's air-tight security, neither the CIA nor MI6 can risk sending any official agents for fear of capture and potential provocation for all-out war. They ask Greville to act as their middle-man by establishing a working business relationship with Russia working closely with the Colonel. In that way, he would serve as a courier of information without knowing what it actually is. From there, the two men form a friendship out of a mutual desire to ensure a better future for their families. Assuming they don't get caught.
Films like these are reliant upon their cast, and this one boasts a brilliant assembly of talented actors. Benedict Cumberbatch, as you might expect, delivers his usual professionalism and conviction to his role. While his physicality and vocal range often make him best suited for villainous or larger-than-life heroic roles, he seems most capable of conveying human vulnerability. When he's hurt on screen, you genuinely feel it! His engaging performance is further enhanced by his remarkable chemistry with his co-star Merag Ninidze. Their on-screen friendship feels believable and authentic.
The cinematography deserves special mention because it succeeds in filming dark scenes properly. Photographed by Sean Bobbitt, late of 12 Years a Slave, and the 2013 remake of Oldboy, the lighting and color style succeeds in providing a much-needed sense of contrast. Even when a scene is intended to be in a dark room with little to no light, rarely are you left searching for the intended subject in the scene. Most cinematographers nowadays tend to ignore or forget the need for proper contrast when filming a dark scene and simply rely upon the dynamic range of the camera's sensor to retrieve the information within the shadows. At least, that's the impression I often get.
The Courier may not be the most pleasant film to watch at times, but it is a well-crafted piece of work with powerhouse performances all around and beats of visual storytelling that almost feels extinct. Highly recommended.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment