The Impossible Spy

"The Impossible Spy" is a so-so spy flick and docudrama which tells of renowned Israeli spy Eli Cohen and his penetration of the Syrian government in the years prior to the Six Days War. The film has the look of a low budget indie and, though it's well meaning and earnest, it is not a very elegant flick. Furthermore, much of the story seems too obvious to be real spy stuff which probably just means it's true. Recommended for those into spy flicks or the history of the Syrian/Israel conflict of the 1960's.

One who is not interested in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, sympathetic to the Israeli cause, and inspired by Eli Cohen's sacrifice for that cause, will probably find this movie boring. One comes away from watching this movie, not thinking about what a great movie he just watched, but about the life of Eli Cohen. And perhaps that's what the filmmakers intended.

I can't think of anything particularly good to say about the movie. It is somewhat slow-paced, and no performances particularly stand out. But I find myself going back and watching it again and again, because the story it tells is so interesting to me. While the acting and production do not draw attention to themselves with their impressiveness, neither do they distract from the story due to poor quality; everything about the movie is unspectacular but competent.

The only complaint I can make is about the portrayal of Cohen's wife. She comes across so annoyingly that in the end, after her husband's death, when she encounters the Mossad official who lied to her repeatedly, took her husband away and sent him on the mission that resulted in his death, one finds oneself sympathizing with the spy-master because of the awkwardness of the situation, rather than with the aggrieved widow because of her loss.

The impossible spy 1987 (although roku has this as released 1986). Stars john shea, eli wallach. Cohen, an isreali, is sent to syria to gather information for mossad. He cozies up to all the syrian leaders, and learns their structure and habits. He even gets an apartment next to the headquarters. He learns the locations of troops and arms, and makes a trip back to israel to see his wife and pass the information to mossad, to help during the six day war. It runs like a documentary, all done pretty well. More details in the elie cohen entry in wikipedia dot com. The only other thing i had seen by jim goddard was shanghai surprise, and that didn't turn out well. He did win a bafta for the series "kennedy".

The Impossible Spy is a BBC co-production and was deemed to be controversial at the time of its showing.

John Shea plays Eli Cohen who infiltrates the Syrian government and manages to acquire secrets and military intelligence which eventually allows Israel to win the Six Days War and take over The Golan Heights.

Eli Wallach plays the Mossad handler. Both leads are earnest and for a BBC TV film very different from its usual subject matter.

It can be seen to be slow and slightly heavy going. It is of course rather one sided hence the controversy as it was seen to have had an Israeli bias.

It's strange that other foreign movies, much worst, are given the best marks

I found this movie very moving, and well documented. Indeed, it is a documentary.

Even on films, bias against Israel is obvious. I saw marks as high as 8.1 and 5 are given to horrible french movies, which are the worst in the film industry. French, besides naked and "object" women, have no imagination, and still they are given the best marks. Incredible.

The story of this Israeli spy is very informative of at which length would Israelis go to protect their citizens against vicious attacks from the neighboring Arabs. This movie renders with utmost reality the talent exercised by this Israeli spy to hiding his activities to his wife and whole family.

And his whole life as a spy is incredible because he didn't chose to be a spy and it was not his trade at all. That shows the love Israelis have for their tiny country due to the fact they endanger their own lives and the lives of their families, without a thought, to help their country. I believe this movie is very well directed and played, especially when we consider the size and the date of Israel's creation: 1948. There was nothing but sand and desert.

My marks for this movie is 8.5