The Courier is the first spy film of 2021 (James Bond and Ethan Hunt will return later this year) and it's a win. Though it features several key events associated with the 007 and Mission: Impossible franchises -- a mission in Russia, a night at the ballet, cooperation between the CIA and MI6, the threat of nuclear war and loads of suspense -- The Courier lacks the action spectacle that's become a hallmark of both. And it still works. In fact, The Courier is the most watchable non-action spy thriller I've ever seen.
Based on the true story of an early 1960s intelligence-gathering mission, the film examines the events surrounding cold-war era Russian Colonel Oleg Penkovsky's smuggling classified intel regarding the Soviet nuclear program to the west through English businessman Greville Wynn -- all while under the ever-watchful eye of the KGB. Surrounded by covert operatives, civilian informants and lip-readers, Penkovsky and Wynn ferry the Kremlin's secrets during quasi-clandestine meetings and while hiding in plain sight under the guise of the latter as a greedy capitalist unwittingly having industrial trade practices stolen from him by the former. This little-known operation contributed greatly to the peaceful end of the tense, 13 -day Cuban Missile Crisis. And both men put themselves at substantially greater risk than the British and American agents overseeing the operation (Dickie Franks and Emily Donovan, respectively). Worse, their handlers eventually hang them out to dry. Neither had exploding pens or life-like facemasks -- just mini-cameras, lots of guts and a determination to prevent World War III. Did Penkovsky, codenamed "Ironbark", get caught? Did Wynn?
Star Benedict Cumberbatch's last spy film, The Imitation Game, was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar in 2015 but The Courier is a considerably better movie. It remains to be seen whether or not No Time to Die (due in October) or Mission: Impossible 7 (scheduled for November) can provide compelling espionage-based drama. The Courier has certainly set the bar high.
Look for The Courier in theaters March 19.
Great review. I managed to sneak this one in at the theater - yes! - and am so glad I did. There is nothing like seeing a good film on the big screen. Anyway, I loved the story as I had no idea it was based on true events. That definitely helped capture my attention even more. It was a little, just a little, bit slow in my opinion at the beginning but it definitely picked up steam and when it did - wow! While this is a good - but not great- film in my opinion, the thing that really needs to be seen are the performances by Benedict Cumberbatch and Merab Ninidze, who almost steals the show from Cumberbatch. The other picky thing I will state is I really could not get into the performance of Jessie Buckley, who portrays Cumberbatch’s wife in the film. She is a great actor as I have seen her in other things, but something was just off as her in this role. Anyway, definitely a good film.
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