Rating: 4/5
Based on the gut-wrenching true story of a Soviet agent and the kind-hearted man recruited to help him, ‘The Courier’ is a gripping watch for any modern history buff.
However, going in with no prior knowledge of the Cuban Missile Crisis makes this film as educational as it is exciting.
Greville Wynne, a talented salesman, was recruited by MI6 given his frequent trips to Eastern Europe, to act as a courier passing state secrets from Soviet spy Oleg Penkovsky onto the British and American authorities. The information passed on by Penkovsky was essential to the UK’s discovery of Soviet emplacement of missiles in Cuba during one of the most hostile crises of the last 100 years.
Wynne is played by Benedict Cumberbatch in a rare role where the audience can easily forget the presence of such a renowned actor; he slips into the character effortlessly. He is supported by a believable crew of actors, including Rachel Brosnahan, a seasoned comedy actress, who manages to hit her stride as Emily Donovan, a dedicated CIA agent torn between her dedication to her work and saving the lives of Wynne and Penkovsky.
There are many lessons to take from this film, but also how as individuals, we can help change the world.
See this movie at Hoyts Penrith.
Erin Christie is the Weekender’s entertainment and community news journalist. She has worked with Are Media, Good Reading Magazine and a host of other publications.
