The Courier – A Well-Acted Yet Familiar Spy Thriller

Originally premiering at last year’s Sundance Film Festival under the tile of Ironbark, The Courier is the latest film that is sure to satisfy audiences’ next period spy movie fix. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any means, not that it should, it is still a compelling thriller that does just enough to keep audiences at the edge of their seats. Though it is based on a true story that could easily be searched for online, its performances across the board are what makes it work. The theme of a seemingly ordinary man placed in an extraordinary situation has been more or less done countless times in countless films and this one was no different. However once again, it works by giving us a character to root for in the form of British businessman Greville Wynne (Cumberbatch) who found himself recruited by the CIA and MI6 for a secret mission as a courier where little did he know would result in him helping to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Needing a way into Russia that wouldn’t arouse suspicion, Wynne seemed to be the best choice to send to Russia as he was a businessman with dealings in Eastern Europe. His contact there was General Oleg Penkovsky (Ninidze), codenamed Ironbark (hence the original film title), a disillusioned member of the Russian military. Suffice it to say that when it came to Wynne’s relationship with Penkovsky, his inexperience showed but nevertheless, the two family men still struck a bond. As this bond grew, Wynne became more invested in his mission. Penkovsky proved invaluable for his delivering of intel regarding the Russian nuclear program. Meanwhile as the mission progressed and the various spy agency fought to stay ahead of the Russian threat, so did the stakes and the danger as Wynne found himself between two world superpowers on the brink of war. As he went about his mission, keeping the facts from his wife Sheila (Buckley) for whom his marriage was on rocky ground.

From there, the issue was was whether or not they would succeed as the walls came closing in and if Penkovsky and his family would survive this ordeal. Wynne’s humanity shined through up against the cold and calculated nature of the spy establishment. Choices had to be made balancing what was the right thing to do both politically and morally. The result here shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise to anyone. This was when The Courier was ultimately at its best. In the midst of a potential war. characters had to step up and the intensity ratched up accordingly. The score was superb in keeping up with the general tension. The end result was another international incident that tested the resolve of both Wynne and Sheila despite the many attempts of the Russians to break him.

In the end, the best part of The Courier was again its performances across the board, especially Cumberbatch’s career-best performance as Wynne. Bringing charm, relatability, and a screen presence as well as some surprising vulnerability, audiences got to feel every stage of his journey as an everyman being taken through the ringer. From the highest of highs, to the confusion, and to his plight, he was compelling to watch. His chemistry with Ninidze as Penkovsky was stellar and created a fun relationship. Brosnahan as CIA agent Emily Donovan and Buckley as Sheila were also good in limited roles but the film was undisputedly Cumberbatch’s.

At the end of the day, The Courier may just be more of the same in terms of the spy genre but Cumberbatch makes it well worth the watch.

still courtesy of Elevation Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.