All of the fat has been trimmed in The Courier, a fast-paced Cold War thriller based on the real-life British businessman and Soviet intelligence officer who struck a surprising friendship as they delivered vital nuclear information to the CIA. It’s tense and high-wire, but in between moments of suspense, there’s dry comic relief and moving displays of tenderness. The pacing is masterful, and every element—from score to editing to performance—works hand in hand to deliver what feels like an old-fashioned espionage film. There are little to no frills and flourishes here, just good ‘ol spying, chasing, and whipsmart comebacks.
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Actor: Alice Orr-Ewing, Andrey Kurganov, Angus Wright, Anton Lesser, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Bark-Jones, Elina Alminas, Iva Šindelková, Jessie Buckley, Jonathan Harden, Kirill Pirogov, Laurel Lefkow, Marián Chalány, Marian Lorencik, Mariya Mironova, Merab Ninidze, Miles Richardson, Oliver Johnstone, Ondřej Malý, Rachel Brosnahan, Vladimir Chuprikov, Zeljko Ivanek
Director: Dominic Cooke
Rating: PG-13
