The brilliance of Cumberbatch’s performance lies in the way he conveys both Wynne’s venality and his idealism.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 16, 2025

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

| Jul 26, 2023

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.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jun 27, 2023

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.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 9, 2022

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.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 22, 2022

“The Courier” is helped by its compelling ‘based on true events‘ element and by its deep respect for its characters who effectively pull us into this remarkable story of valor, sacrifice, and friendship.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 17, 2022

An ordinary citizen's casualness being introduced to a complex world of secrets and spies is fascinating to see displayed, and Cumberbatch does a magnificent job at grasping this portrayal.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 5, 2022

The Courier isnt quite the breath-taking labyrinth of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Cumberbatchs other Cold War thriller), but for those looking for some old-fashioned spy games, this accomplishes its mission.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 3, 2022

Celebrates a bygone era when it wasn't abnormal to sacrifice one's personal interests for the sake of a larger community or cause.

| Jan 26, 2022

...essentially the story of an extraordinary male friendship...

| Nov 17, 2021

Until the final stretch of the story, there isn't even too much tension. [Full review in Spanish]

| Nov 15, 2021

Despite having a rather committed performance from Benedict Cumberbatch, 'The Courier' is a spy thriller in the code of Le Carré that operates on conventional grounds without any tension or anything that is thrilling. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 5/10 | Nov 5, 2021

The cast is very good but -- little surprise -- it's Cumberbatch who steals the show.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 4, 2021

Solid, but without too many or any surprises. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 3, 2021

There is some spycraft here, but director Dominic Cooke (On Chesil Beach, 2017) puts an emphasis on revealing the humans behind the stoic facades.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 28, 2021

It's difficult to watch The Courier and not think of Bridge of Spies. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 28, 2021

The second half surprises as the drama builds. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Oct 27, 2021

Following in the hallowed footsteps of le Carré, Dominic Cooke's The Courier is a smart, sophisticated Cold War espionage tale that proves facts can sometimes be more fantastical than fiction.

| Oct 5, 2021

Turns out to be so much more than a history lesson... A daunting drama.

| Sep 2, 2021

The heart of the story doesn't come from Wynne's relationship with his wife, but from the bond he forges with Penkovsky.

| Sep 1, 2021