--- title: "The Courier: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-courier/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-courier" critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Courier (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 62 from 16 reviews: 5 positive, 9 mixed, 2 negative. The consensus on The Courier is mixed, leaning towards modest approval, with the performances attracting the clearest praise. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of a frightened man finding unexpected resolve earns approval even from less persuaded critics. Merab Ninidze also draws attention for the emotion he conveys with small gestures. Several reviews find the friendship between their characters warmer and more involving than the espionage, while the direction receives some credit for its elegance and visual flair. The reservations centre on familiar storytelling, uneven suspense and a lack of emotional depth. Critics differ over whether the friendship is sufficiently developed and whether the final stretch supplies the force missing earlier. The spread is fairly wide: The i Paper finds subtlety and insight despite contrivances, while Slant Magazine sees blandness and little nuance. Between those positions, most critics describe a watchable spy drama whose actors do more to hold attention than its plotting. ## The i Paper — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2021. Macnab praises the film as a subtle, insightful espionage thriller, despite some contrived storytelling. He singles out Cumberbatch’s performance for balancing Wynne’s venality with his idealism. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-courier-review-benedict-cumberbatch-brilliant-insightful-spy-movie-oleg-penkovsky-1149750) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2021. Hewitt finds the film entertaining and more enthralling than expected, though its final stretch neglects Penkovsky’s story. He praises the performances and especially the warmth of Cumberbatch and Ninidze’s portrayal of an unlikely friendship. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-courier/) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating B-. 16 March 2021. D’Angelo finds the film too dull and cliché-prone to make its spy story exciting, though it rallies in its final stretch. He praises Dominic Cooke’s visual flair and singles out Benedict Cumberbatch’s haunted performance in the prison scenes. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/even-benedict-cumberbatch-can-t-make-the-real-life-spy-1846486692) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2021. Ebiri finds the film a serviceable espionage drama that becomes sublime when its two leads share the screen. He especially praises Merab Ninidze’s expressive performance and ability to convey emotion through a glance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-courier-spy-movie-benedict-cumberbatch.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2021. Walsh finds the film perfunctory at first but ultimately dark, complex and moving. She praises the human connection between Wynne and Penkovsky, especially as embodied by Merab Ninidze. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-18/review-the-courier-benedict-cumberbatch-rachel-brosnahan) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. The page text provides no information about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-courier-movie-review-2021) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2021. The URL identifies this as a New York Times review of The Courier. The page content is unavailable, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/movies/the-courier-review.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C+. 25 January 2020. Festival review. Ehrlich finds the film brisk and entertaining but ultimately short of the gravitas its story demands. He praises the easy friendship between Cumberbatch’s Wynne and Ninidze’s Penkovsky, while faulting the film’s limited suspense and emotional range. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/ironbark-review-sundance-1202205671/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 3/5. 13 August 2021. O'Sullivan finds the film less subtle and cohesive than Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but says its best moments are haunting. She praises Cumberbatch's performance, especially his portrayal of Greville's panic in solitary confinement. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-courier-film-review-benedict-cumberbatch-greville-wynne-b950280.html) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 3/5. Simmonds finds the true story fascinatingly told but the film underwhelming overall. She praises its stylish presentation and the remarkable real-life espionage at its centre. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-1a1jcm/the-courier/) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Rating 3/5. 25 January 2020. Festival review. Lee finds the film sturdy and satisfying, though its familiar storytelling and underdeveloped central friendship limit its impact. He especially praises Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance, which grows more harrowing in the final act. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/25/ironbark-review-benedict-cumberbatch-heats-up-solid-cold-war-drama) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 26 July 2021. The review calls it a brisk, old-school spy thriller, though lighter than le Carré. It singles out the suspense as clammy-palmed. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-courier-2021) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2020. Festival review. Debruge finds the espionage drama intermittently interesting but ultimately less exciting than its story might be. He praises the lead performances and the emotionally powerful final stretch, while faulting the film’s dullness and thinly populated scenes. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/the-courier-review-ironbark-1203479560/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 11 March 2021. Lane finds the film cramped and less emotionally stirring than it should be, though he sees it as enjoyable for Cumberbatch’s fans. He particularly praises Cumberbatch’s portrayal of a decent, frightened man who discovers unexpected fortitude. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/22/cold-war-connections-in-the-courier) ## Slant Magazine — Keith Watson Rating 1.5/4. 15 March 2021. Watson finds the film bland and clichéd, with little tension or nuance. He praises the parallel between Wynne’s friendship with Penkovsky and the strain on his marriage, though he says the film handles both ineffectively. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-courier-review-benedict-cumberbatch/) ## Eye for Film — Jeremy Mathews Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2020. Festival review. The critic finds the Cold War drama engaging, with elegant direction and a story that balances suspense with emotional consequences. The relationships—especially the mutual respect between Cumberbatch and Ninidze’s characters—are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ironbark-2020-film-review-by-jeremy-mathews) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-courier.md