Written by: Tom O’Connor
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Jessie Buckley
Rating: [3.5/5]
Monumental moments in history carry the big names found in the textbooks but contain the contributions of many smaller players all integral to maintaining peace in our world. Getting the stories of these individuals out there through these films helps enlighten those hidden heroes, which we get in The Courier. Thoroughly tense throughout and very well crafted, this feature brings us right into the paranoia of this era.
In the midst of the Cold War, businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets presented with an opportunity to serve his country by traveling to the Soviet Union under the guise of a developing business while carrying messages he’ll pass on to help the cause. With the inherent danger of this mission, he must also keep it a secret from everyone in his life, including his wife.
Anxiety and paranoia sat at their all-time high during the Cold War with children routinely practicing what would occur should a nuclear bomb drop and the fear of spies on each side walking around obtaining secret information. Getting caught doing this spying made for some dire consequences ultimately scary for Greville who has never worked with any sort of espionage but must sell the idea he’s actually in the Soviet Union for business purposes. In a way, this mission does serve as a strong suit for a salesman like him as he must sell himself in this circumstance rather than a product.
Not only does this mission take on a toll on Greville from the fear of being found out and imprisoned, but also a strain back at home. Trying to put myself in the same situation, it feels unfathomable to take on something as serious as this endeavor and not share it with my wife. Greville certainly needs to keep it from her giving this feeling of possible infidelity occurring. No way to defend himself and tell the truth makes it difficult for Greville to be in his own home. This all culminates into something pushing into him on both sides upping the ante to an unbearable degree.
Each scene taking place during these exchanges when Greville reaches the Soviet Union creates this incredible tension because he truly cannot trust anyone he interacts with. As instructed, he cannot presume innocence on anyone as they may operate as eyes and ears for the state making it clear he must walk around eggshells anywhere he navigates for his sake as well as the Western world. He only has one ally Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) and the bond they build creates something incredibly emotionally potent making the moments in the finale all the more impactful. The built-up stress of this feature allows for several levels of catharsis but also a distinct sadness running throughout because of this circumstance overall.
As these two risk their lives with every action they do in this film, the narrative explores the idea of individuals versus greater society and what warrants a sacrifice for the sake of a larger collective. Greville undoubtedly puts his life at risk in this feature with not much personal gain available but rather the hope it brings peace to the world with this tension and fear coming to an end. Penkovsky does the same on the Soviet side with the reality he must betray his very own country in order to attain this peace. These two men represent a level of selflessness through their actions that show the bravery and heroics that came with nothing that would line their coffers, which many, including myself, would not have acted in the same way. What they endure drives inspiration and it certainly gets well presented in the feature.
Incredibly tense throughout and boasting a wonderful performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Courier certainly entertains through its story and highlights the significant contributions of two individuals who put everything else behind to get us one step toward peace during this time. It demonstrates the collective effort necessary in order to make effective change and that not all who assisted receive the plaudits and adulation they deserve. A well-crafted film giving the spotlight to what Greville Wyne and Oleg Penkovsky did for their respective countries and the world that balanced its tone throughout so effectively to hit each note on the song sheet.
Films with Josh 