‘The Courier’ movie review: Throwback spy-thriller that delivers on its promise

The cast is exceptional and held together by Benedict Cumberbatch’s virtuoso performance as Wynne

Though Ian Fleming created James Bond as a Cold War era spy, the movies created a suave, globe-trotting secret agent in Saville Row suits quaffing copious quantities of vodka martinis while dallying with lovely ladies in luxurious hotel rooms. There is also the other, understated kind of spy-thriller, which is no less thrilling. So, while Bond was defeating Goldfinger and dissing The Beatles (really), a middle-aged spy was bought out of retirement to find a mole in the British secret service (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). . The Courier, based on true events, tells the story of Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch), a British businessman who is persuaded by the CIA and the British intelligence to act as a courier for a high-ranking GRU officer, Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze). Wynne is chosen because he travels often to eastern European countries on work. When Penkovsky agrees to spy for the west, Wynne seems to be the right person to be his contact as he is a civilian with no connection to the intelligence services. And being a businessman, it is easy to convince Russia that he is just another greedy capitalist. As MI6’s Dickie Franks (Angus Wright) says no one will suspect Wynne as he is out of shape and has a drinking problem.