British Spy. Look, it’s a little bit of a misnomer. But then again, is it? If you were to ask Greville Wynne how he spent 1960, he’d tell you he was a businessman doing what businessmen do. Yet, as The Courier displays with artful storytelling and powerful performances, Greville Wynne was as much a spy as he was a hero of the Cold War.
Never Iron Curtains, Even Behind the Iron Curtain
Seriously, don’t iron your curtains no matter where you live. While I’m no homemaker, I know this much: keeping a tidy, presentable, and functioning household is no easy task. And when your husband goes missing and his attitude reeks of suspicion…a home can become a battleground. For Greville Wynne, played by the equally indomitable Benedict Cumberbatch, his assignment from MI6 and the CIA put him in harm’s way at home and abroad. If you read our article on The Mauritanian, you know I was praiseworthy of his performance. He emotes a brave, emotional, and calculated performance that captures the audience with each daring twist or doomed turn.
Jessie Buckley plays Sheila, Mrs. Wynne, and she plays the part perfectly. They’re joined by Rachel Brosnahan, Mirab Ninidze, and Angus Wright. I don’t know if it’s just been the theatrical drought during COVID or just facts, but this cast is perfect from start to finish.
Director Dominic Cooke previously lent his talents to a late 20th-century British period-piece On Chesil Beach. Now, I was not a fan of that movie for its story. But, it was beautiful with a good tone and use of color throughout. The Courier brings those talents for tactful lighting, rich color tones, and composition to center stage, and Cooke shines. Rather than feel like another blue-tinted look at the 1960’s, The Courier immerses you a world full of color.
Businessman to Spy: The Courier
The Soviet Union had no shortage of defectors. We’ve got loads of movies centered on or around those stories. What about a high-ranking political and military figure sending information to the West? Now the stakes are raised. Now it gets interesting.
Oleg Vladimirovich Penkovsky was a Soviet Military Intelligence Colonel and decorated veteran. When he passed his information to the West, he was the highest ranking Soviet official to divulge state secrets. Because of his status and growing surveillance, MI6 and the CIA contrived a plan to safely carry his intel back from Moscow.
Greville Wynne was less than enthused at the start of his courier trips, but soon a budding friendship and trust form what should have been believable cover. Suspicions mount, Wynne’s spouse condemns him for his secrets, and soon the KGB begins rooting around for traitors. And we all know how good the KGB is at doing that. Wynne and Penkovsky’s efforts changed the course of the Cold War and Cuban Missile crisis. The Courier is a fitting retelling and highlights a truly heroic effort in the face of nuclear warheads and mutually assured destruction.
Intel: What kinda movie is The Courier anyway?
So let’s get it straight, The Courier is not Valkyrie. It’s not The Good Shepherd either. It’s a good mix of Bridge of Spies and Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy. And let me tell you, that’s a good pair of flicks to be floating around. The film originally premiered at Sundance Film Festival as Ironbark before the distribution rights were purchased by Lionsgate. It screened to generally favorable reviews and praises for both performances and writing.
If you’re expecting shoot outs, let’s reel that one back in. It’s espionage, narrative, and brotherly kindness more than pistols, shoe bombs, and real-life Bond gadgets. This is a story of dignified heroism and fighting for the ones, and ideals, you cherish most.
Verdict?
Go see it in theaters! You’ll come for the A-list names but stay for engaging story and powerful performances.
Click here to find a showtime for The Courier. It opens Friday, March 19th, 2021 in both the United States and United Kingdom.
If you liked The Courier, definitely pop over to our review of The Mauritanian. This is the movie that Jodie Foster acted her ass off in, enough so to win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Read it, go see it!