Really, I don't know how this film could have been made any better. All the performances were top notch and believable. Cumberbatch has set a modern-day standard for dedication to his craft in the likeness of De Niro's _Raging Bull_ weight gain and loss. Cumberbatch put himself fully into the character of a starving Soviet espionage prisoner at a time when Ivan wasn't being too conciliatory to Westerners.
Wow, this whole film had me on the edge of my seat despite its being a recitation of historical fact. Knowing how the story comes out in no way diminishes the telling of that story by those who have mastered the storytelling craft.
Wow, this whole film had me on the edge of my seat despite its being a recitation of historical fact. Knowing how the story comes out in no way diminishes the telling of that story by those who have mastered the storytelling craft.