The Courier

Combines plenty of the ingredients for a first-class espionage thriller but doesn't quite deliver.

Intriguing and genuinely heartfelt without ever veering into melodrama or hackneyed spy movie tropes.

The Courier may have its moments, but it's also burdened with certain expectations.

This is a damn good, explosively tense story that focuses on the friendship that develops between two men on opposite sides. And it is plainly wonderful.

Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a masterclass in "acting in a vacuum" with this disappointing historical spy drama that fails on almost every level except for the dazzling performance of its leading man.

The Courier may not be as subtle or cohesive as Cumberbatch's last spy movie, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but its best moments are haunting.

What could have easily been a boring slog of a film is turned into a daring, intense drama

Cooke has clearly studied "The Third Man" and John LeCarré's spy novels, and creates an oppressive atmosphere filled with deep shadows from where suspicious eyes may be watching.

The Courier has everything you want in a Cold War spy thriller. It’s solidly paced and strikes a nice balance of suspense and moving human drama.

This is a gripping story of adversity against all odds, mixing patriotism and uncomplicated heroics with a well-paced structure that knows when to escalate and when to settle back into the calm.