THE CATCHER WAS A SPY

US, 2018, 98 minutes, Colour.
Paul Rudd, Mark Strong, Jeff Daniels, Tom Wilkinson, Sienna Miller, Guy Pearce, Paul Giamatti, Giancarlo Giannini, Hiroyuki Sanada, Connie Neilson, Shea Whigham.
Directed by Ben Lewin.

The screenplay for this film, written by Robert Rodat (The Patriot, Saving Private Ryan, The Command) is based on a 1990s book, Catcher was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg. It has been directed by Australian writer-director, Ben Lewin (born in Poland and a migrant after World War II, directing The Dunera Boys about the Jews put on a ship, finally finding refuge in Australia, film and television in Australia but two decades of working in film and television in the United States).

It can be noted that the year after the release of this film, a feature length documentary, The Spy Behind the Plate, was released, going over the life and mission of Moe Berg, drawing on documents and footage.

This is a story that is more in common with the John Le Carre world rather than an action show. However, there is a section in the middle involving the central characters during the American advance in Italy towards Rome. And, there is also some tension at the end of the film when Moe Berg has to make a decision about his killing of a German scientist or not.

The focus of the film is on Moe Berg himself, something of a loner, an enigmatic figure, a champion baseball player in the 1930s, yet very well educated, encyclopedic knowledge, comfortable in a dozen languages. He was also a patriot, volunteering to work for the American government during World War II, but prepared for war by his participation in a baseball tour of Japan in the late 1930s and his surreptitiously photographing buildings in anticipation of war.

He is taken on by World War I hero, Bill Donovan (The Fighting 69th), finds a desk job too confining, but receives a commission to go to Europe to find the Nobel-prize-winning German scientist, Werner Heisenberg, to find out whether he is building a nuclear bomb for the Germans and, if so, to assassinate him. Jeff Daniels is confidently commanding as Donovan. Berg goes to Italy in company with a scientist played by Paul Giamatti and a military attache a played by Guy Pearce.

The film has a strong supporting cast including Tom Wilkinson as a scientist in Zürich, Mark Strong as the German scientist, Heisenberg, Giancarlo Giannini as an Italian scientist, Sienna Miller as a close friend of Berg, she in love with him, he rather solitary, some with suspicions that he was gay, but his remaining a loner all his life. He was awarded the presidential medal for his work in the war but declined it, never explaining why.

Some of the comments about this film note that it might have been longer, filling in more detail of Berg himself as well is a number of the other characters.

1. World War II? OSS? Espionage? Based on a true story? The opening in Zürich, the glimpses of Scheerer, of Heisenberg, of the Swiss connection and Berg and his decisions? The screenplay then going back to the 1930s and baseball?

2. The baseball is tour of Japan, Berg going, refusing to allow Estella to go, the demonstrations in Japan, the Japanese players, the respect and ritual? His meeting with the Japanese academic, the discussions, the prospect of war? His being dressed in the kimono, photographing the buildings – and later presenting them to Donovan and the OSS as a qualification for his work for them?

3. The US in the 1930s and 1940s? The world of baseball, games, locker rooms, coaches, players? The world of academia, libraries, radio shows? The world of the OSS, work during World War II? Washington DC? The war in Europe, the US troops in Italy, the world of scientists, the transition to Zürich, neutral Switzerland, scientists and universities, lectures? Dark streets? The musical score?

4. The story of Moe Berg? An interesting character? Enigmatic? Motivations? Privacy? The performance by Paul Rudd? His talent as a baseball player? His love of the game? The locker room, criticisms, the player following him, Berg assaulting him? Insinuations about homosexuality? Berg ageing, the discussions about his future with his coach? Seeing him participating in the radio quiz? His knowledge? His vast reading? His knowledge of languages? His relationship with Estela, intimate, yet distant, at home, the going out? Her response to him?

5. Berg’s inquiries about the war, his approaching Bill Donovan, the interview, his being accepted, his desk work, running down the corridor, wanting to be out? The discussions with Donovan, Sam Goldsmouidt, Robert Furman, the concern about nuclear fission, the work of Werner Heisenberg, collaborating with the Nazis to produce a nuclear bomb? The plan, to go with the troops into Italy, connections in Rome, the trip to Zürich, confronting Heisenberg? And, for him to be killed if necessary?

6. The action sequences, the trip to Italy, with the troops, the advance on Rome, the German troops, the snipers? The dangers, Goldsmoudt and his fearfulness, Furman and his leadership? The connection with the Italian professor and the information? Donovan coming to Rome, the plan, Paul Scheerer and his inviting Heisenberg to give a lecture in Zürich? For Berg to meet him, test him?

7. Crossing the border into Switzerland, the partisans and their condemning Berg as a Jew, his speaking Italian, shaming them, threatening them?

8. The contacting Zürich, codes, his being guided into the city? The code name of Mr Aziz? His meeting with Paul Scheerer? The discussions about Heisenberg, the invitation to Zürich?

9. Heisenberg, in the office with Scheerer, the toilet, hearing the gun? Suspicions? His giving the lecture? Noticing Berg? And the Gestapo accompanying him?

10. His agreeing to meet Berg, the restaurant, the chess game, wiping the pieces from the board, the game in their minds, the continual parrying?

11. Berg and his final phone call to Estela? His love for her? His going to the ceremony in the synagogue?

12. Sheerer, the social, the women attacking Heisenberg for being a traitor? His being observed by the Gestapo guards? The discussions with Berg, the chess game? His leaving, Berg following, the Gestapo following? The discussion in the street, the issue of his being a traitor or not, Berg not shooting him? His Swiss contact shooting the Gestapo?

13. The final information, the Germans not producing the bomb, Heisenberg postwar and his moving into the German anti--nuclear movement? A celebrated scientist? Berg, the award of the metal, his refusing but not explaining why? His breaking with Estela and her marrying? His spending his time between baseball games and libraries?

14. An interesting perspective on World War II, American involvement, the OSS leading to the CIA, political assassinations, science and bombs…?