Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, John Hurt
Details: UK/France / 120mins (15A).
After a bungled mission in Hungary that ended in the death of spy Jim Prideaux (Strong), Control (Hurt) employs George Smiley (Oldman), who was forced into early retirement, to root out a suspected Soviet mole at large in MI6. It could be anyone in The Circus, the high echelon of the British Secret Service: Percy Allenine (Toby Jones) aka Tinker, Bill Haydon (Firth) aka Tailor, Roy Bland (Ciarán Hinds) aka Soldier or Toby Esterhase (David Dencik) aka Poor Man. Smiley meticulously goes about eliminating his suspects…
That's a brief synopsis for a film that tackles John Le Carre's expansive novel and a 70s series starring Alec Guinness that took seven forty-minute episodes to get to a climax. But this film adaptation feels as in-depth. 'Meticulous' is the byword: lavish detail is extended to every corner of the screen; from the clothes to the sets, right down to the cigarettes they smoke, the overall effect is the viewer's complete absorption in this world. Credit to director Tomas Alfredson (Let The Right One In) who never takes his eyes off the ball and allow the detail to overwhelm the plot, which is always foremost in his mind. It might move at a snail's pace but it always moving. If 'meticulous' is a byword, then 'intricate' would be another. Try 'intimate', 'eerie', 'chilling', 'thorough' and 'bleak' too. A shower may be needed afterwards.
With so many star names, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy could have drowned under that weight but it manages to be a superbly plotted film and an acting tour de force. Oldman is front and centre with his quietest performance to date: Smiley has lines to say and is asked to move about but Oldman is so slight in his delivery it is as if he goes through the entire movie sitting in a chair in silence. If he downplayed a little more, he'd simply disappear. Everyone chips in with subtle turns with Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy pitching in too. It's a shame, though, that Firth and Hinds aren't as prominent as the marquee would suggest.
With so many names and double-crosses and whatnot to remember, it's hard to keep abreast of it all but this thinking man's spy thriller is one of the movies of the year.
Review by Gavin Burke
Your Comments
Joker
He's no Alec Guinness, but then again, The Dude was better than the Duke in True Grit, so maybe...heresy?
Posted 12/09/2011 14:04:28
Bryce
Heard John Le Carre on radio today - said he was well pleased with the movie.
Posted 14/09/2011 12:35:11
FilmBuff76
"The movie event of the year"... Yeah, right. Don't believe the hype on the poster. I was quite looking forward to this spy film, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The film starts well but then quickly slows down to an almost glacial pace, leaving the George Smiley character (Gary Oldman) more of a silent presence while the other characters take over. It's only towards the end that Smiley really comes to the fore. Oldman usually dials his performances up to 11, but here he goes in reverse with a cold, calculating performance. This is definitely not a James Bond film, nor was I expecting it to be. But I was at least expecting it to be a tense, thrilling and memorable film. It's none of those unfortunately. It's a missed opportunity.
Posted 15/09/2011 22:29:42
jack brown
DO NOT SEE this movie ! . It's like watching paint dry .Very boring, many people walked out during film. please FIRE gavin burke for writing this review ( It's not april fool day ), I am tired of this clown
Posted 17/09/2011 22:51:43
Slick
I trust Gavin Burke, I hugely respect Le Carre, and I cannot wait to be bored stoopid - because I have a love for storytelling, and if this movie fails check out my review, cus I'll give you the honest truth. If nothing else, at this point, we must be truly grateful for such a mesmerising cast and source material. Adult films in cinema's, and no 3D - who'd have thunk!! :)
Posted 18/09/2011 04:17:16
Conor
much overrated. Some parts are very good. Some parts aren't. Gary Oldman for an Oscar?......nah....
Posted 18/09/2011 23:33:42
Andy Millea
Absolutely fantastic film, its great that films aimed at intelligent adults are still been made by someone, its a great change from the overhyped cgi rubbish and crass "comedies" that makes up 99% of english language movies nowadays. The cast are all fantastic and the plot and pacing excellent, it won't appeal to anyone who can't watch something without edits and explosions every 5 seconds though.
Posted 19/09/2011 18:25:46
PEBBLETROY
An engrossing film but definitely would need to watch it again as I got lost with the plot a few times especially the flashbacks scenes, this is not a film you can just set back & enjoy, you need to engage with it. Oldman gives a subtle yet effective turn. This is a film that will bore some to death & captivate others!
Posted 20/09/2011 00:59:04
ted29
Theres no point in listening to the ones who say "do not see this movie"....what if you are a huge Alfredson fan, or Le Carre or Oldman or Firth....I could say do not go see the Smurfs and my reasons are obvious. They are not so here. Yes it is slow and bleak, but the cold war was hardly down town New Orleans in festival season. The sets are second to none. The performance of Oldman is a wonderful change from his normal Al Pacino on speed type deliveries. You can almost smell the tension and desperation in the air that director Alfredson cultivates...a slow burner without doubt but then i think MOST people would know this isnt Bourne. Its a very well made movie, just not everybodys cuppa is all.
Posted 21/09/2011 18:02:54
Runo79
Intelligence has nothing to do with it...As Gavin Burke indicates, it moves at a "snail's pace". Some will enjoy, others will not...I absolutely hated it...I should have read his review before I paid my ~€10...We've been warned!!
Posted 21/09/2011 23:50:27
Andy Millea
Why is a film thats edited really fast necessarily better than one that isnt? 2001 moves at what some of you'se would call a "snails pace" and its one of the best films ever made, any idiot can make a film that flys along doesn't mean its going to be a good though.
Posted 23/09/2011 01:11:41
Bjorn264
Film of the year - Its great see a movie which even Gary Oldman called it, a "movie for grown-ups", smart, stylish and well paced, a film from a director who respects his audience enough not to spoon feed them information, and rather make the audience pay attention.
Posted 24/09/2011 17:44:16
Bullet1001
I too was disappointed by this film. The acting was good, but I found it confusing and extremely slowly paced. I managed to stick it out to the end, although I had long stopped caring who the mole was! Even though I'm a big fan of spy films, I could only recommend this to insomniacs!
Posted 25/09/2011 22:44:35
Dave
an absolute bore, I am a cinema goer( 2 ,3 times a week) I may not have the vocab to review movies like the so called experts do but I assure you, I know a good movie when I see one and this.... is NOT a good movie, it had the potential to be a top ten of all time , with such an ensemble of actors but it did not deliver, it was excruciatingly slow and did not deliver in suspense or thrills, all in all in my view its a spy movie with a huge gay slant ( not homophobic) 4 outta 10
Posted 26/09/2011 13:45:24
Dublin Boss
How much was Gavin Burke and about a dozen other media companies paid to make this film look and sound good with ridiculous reviews... What a terrible and in agreement with Dave above absolute and utter boring load of rubbish. I rather sit on the pot and read a copy of 'readers digest' than take anything 'Gavin Burke' has to write again. For all audiences, dont bother or waste your time even considering this movie; you are a) wasting your efforts leaving the house b) wasting your valuable euros c) dont even bother getting out on DVD. What an atrochious performance combined with a weak and dreary plot. I am really really annoyed at entertainment.ie for allowing this to be reviewed and 5 starred without having it checked out fully. I really will be heading to a different site to check out my next visit to the cinema. Poor performance Entertainment.ie
Posted 26/09/2011 21:24:37
Bjorn264
You can't blame a reviewer on his opinion on a film. Anyone who basis their cinema choices on what a critic thinks, is a fricking moran. I loved it, as I mentioned, but I could see how it might not be for everyone, people who hated it might be inclined to enjoy a Bond Movie or some other watered down 'spy thriller'. 5 stars.
Posted 26/09/2011 23:40:04
jack brown
instead of watching this utterly boring fiasco , go see planet of apes or warrior .
Posted 27/09/2011 11:18:38
Pandora
I can't decide if I should watch the original before going to see this.... Alec/Gary, Alec/Gary, tough choice. I am one of the movie goer's who has had their fill of pathetic remakes, 3D monstrosities and acting replaced by CGI. I will gladly pay to watch Gary's paint dry.
Posted 28/09/2011 03:29:31
Andy Millea
You won't be disappointed Pandora, seen it for the second time yesterday and it was even better, I too am sick of computer generated muck like Planet of the Apes.
Posted 28/09/2011 12:21:00
Bunny Starr
obviously the story had to be truncated considerably due to the difference between cinema time and reading time... the Beeb's version with the late Sir Alec Guinness as Smiley was of the time and took time Gary Oldman's performance is superb... the film aims to depict spies as dullish educated plods who were sexually dysfunctional at best or compromised at worst and were the antitheses of James Bond ... set against the background of the Cambridge Apostles - Burgess, Blunt, Philby and Maclean.. all politics is personal, all people are political, loyalty is priceless and a vurtue in its own right and true frienship succeeds the grave, corruption is the key to maintaining power, love is the absence of fear, fanatics are weak, and in an atmosphere of fear and mistrust you must start by examining yourself then your immediate circle.. the film is well worth the night out, if only to see the masterful attention to seventies detail, and superb acting from almost everyone including "trigger" from folls and horses, nad for those who have seen "let the right one in", the direction will come as no surprise
Posted 28/09/2011 13:26:42
peats
I cannot remeber going to a more boring movie.My wife fell asleep and I decided not to wake her. I really wanted to walk out but kept waiting for something to happen-"spy movie of the year" more like bore of the century!!
Posted 30/09/2011 17:34:55
flea2001ie
Great film, I totally agree with the reviewer. You'd need another watch to fully get the double crosses. Can't believe people walked out. Maybe there wasn't enough explosions or toilet humour in it for them! Amazing acting in it. Who cast Trigger and Kathy Burke!!!
Posted 04/10/2011 09:47:59
Emma
Went to see this film last night and even though i enjoyed the film; cast amazing and beautifully shot, i wouldnt be rushing to tell friends go see it.
Posted 06/10/2011 10:52:48
Valhalla
I liked the film and would be a fan of Colin Firth,I thought the atmosphere was excellent, the only down side was Oldman is no Alec Guinness.
Posted 08/10/2011 17:12:38
LuckyMe
Excellent old style movie – moody plot, terrific acting keep me engaged throughout and I hadn't read the book
Posted 10/10/2011 10:39:31
Nicholas
A great movie and it was great to see an English movie. Very neat and delivered at the end. I reall enjoyed this movie......... Top class acting... Great. I will go to it again *****
Posted 28/10/2011 10:33:41
stephen0987654321
Was expecting great things. Love spy stories like Bond, Bourne etc but this film was dire. Really really slow pace and the story wasn't even that interesting to top it all. As enjoyable as a trip to the dentist.
Posted 18/11/2011 21:11:53
SeanJO
"After a bungled mission in Hungary that ended in the death of spy Jim Prideaux (Strong), Control (Hurt) employs George Smiley (Oldman), who was forced into early retirement" I don't believe it is Control who employs Smiley.
Posted 01/12/2011 13:46:23
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