Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Reviews

Our Review

All-star spy flick has the smarts

Rima Sabina Aouf, MovieFix

Have you found going to the movies lately just too ... easy? Then try Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the new, all-star spy flick adapted from a John Le Carre novel that's as complex as it is thrilling.

Britain's greatest leading men and character actors appear in this film: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones and Benedict Cumberbatch. They're all spies suspicious of each other after a botched international operation, and the fired agent George Smiley (Oldman) is tasked with quietly finding the mole.

He's particularly wary of the quartet now leading British Intelligence (or 'the Circus', as everyone calls it), who seem to have high-grade Soviet secrets, but the rogue agent Ricki Tarr (Hardy) is about to turn up in his home with a wild lead, if he can believe him.

This is smart stuff, made for people who like their mysteries to be complicated not by in-your-face red herrings but by the unknowableness of human character. Le Carre is the master of spy fiction (mainly because he was one, working for M15 and MI6 before he was outed by a double agent). It feels real, because it very nearly is.

Director Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) has created a tight, detailed and well-paced adaptation that's coloured with an elegant palette of convincingly 1970s tweeds, sepias and pastels.

For all its style, substance and celebrity, Tinker Tailor can still leave you underwhelmed. There's a reason this story was such a hit as a BBC serial in 1979, even before our current 'golden age' of TV drama — its episodic series of small cliffhangers and climaxes are perfect for television, and with some extra space, the characters can develop to the point where you care for them.

Here, the actors have to fill in back stories and plot points with little more than weighted glances. This is an artistically impressive vehicle, but it can feel like it's driven away without you.

Your Reviews

Carmonzo

Loved it. Was meditative, every shot meticulously composed, the performances riveting. The plot challenging but it goes with the subject matter.

Please don't waste your money seeeing this film

The Canetoad Cavalier

2 and 1/2 stars. I have seen the brilliant Sir Alec Guinness Version more than once. This version does its best with a very professional cast but suffers substantially from a lack of character development -markedlywith the 4 suspect, and some miscasting - Percy Alaline in particular. I agree with Andrew R especially in relation to Jim Prideaux and his knowledge of who the mole was. All of which is symtomatic of attempting to condense the long, thought provoking brilliant BBC series into some two hours,

max

very slow very confusing had to leave after 45mins a waist of time and money

msmcilhagga

Three words for this one..... SAVE YOUR MONEY! The director of this fragmented, nonsensical mish-mash needs to watch Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and then try again...... rated minus 236 out of 5 stars

Pellas

Slow and lack lustre. One for spy and conspiracy thoery buffs. Not for the feint hearted.

Ron

The acting was great, but the movie is slow and to complex to follow any real plot.

Sam

For anyone who lived through the years of communisam, like me, this was the reality of our times. Film is a somewhat of a masterpiece. Most holywood likens will rate this 1 star, most people who look for quality, 5+. Great Cast, Great writing and photography.

I agree,slow and boring.How anyone can give this 5 stars is beyond me.Spoke to people as they were coming out of the Theatre and they were all of the same opinion.As for Gary Ol dman,emotionless and boring acting.Give me Ryan Gosling a great actor,and highly under rated.

AndrewR

Wonderful, a brilliant portrayal of the book almost as good as Sir Alec Guiness portrayal. A couple items though has been changed. Jim Prideaux killing of the Spy by bullet whereas in Sir Alex Guiness version, it was a Karate Blow; the discovery of the mole was much more dramatic in Sir Alec Guiness portrayal (and what happened to the tip off with the milk bottles as the all clear. Also Mendel was supposed to be watching Smiley's back for someone shadowing him i.e. Jim Prideaux. This new version somehow forgot to explain how Jim Prideaux knew who the mole was to kill him. Finally of course Pridaux was shot in the forests of Czech slovakia not in Budepest - Oh well. However a great movie as I was kept riveted to my seat. Mind you my wife who hasn't read the book or seen Sir Alec Guiness portrayal of Smiley before lost the plot early on , and I end up having to explain who all the players were on the drive home. She found it all too complicated a drama. I loved it though, having grown up in London in the 50's and 60's in the Cold War being from a Military family, with an uncle who we discovered worked for the security services after he died, it was just wonderful. I loved some small touches in the film , like Peter Guillamme using the chitty system and the piece de resistance the use of the Faraday Cage Meeting room in the SIS Headquarters. Certainly the cinema photography and sets were wonderful. Percy Alline was wonderful, but Toby Esterhause was not very believable from the Sir Alec Guiness version.

Jane L

A stunning movie with a perfectly chosen cast. For heaven's sake, what's wrong with concentrating on what you're watching? The plot's not that hard to follow! Perhaps those who had trouble would have liked multiple ads during the movie!

Sid Movies

A movie that portays a period gone ,whilst a great cast and a plot that holds you intrigued the movie is just to slow paced . At times you are left wondering is something,anything going to happen. A movie that will provide you an experience but not a happy one. My rating 2.5 stars and thats more for the quality period portrayl and good cast. Sid Movies

Tom

I haven't read any Le Carre so I wasn't able to watch for detail differences. On its own, this film was beautifully shot, the performances were exquisite and all production values were exemplary. The problem for me was that the plot was a little too simple to sustain interest. I still had to pay close attention, but the plot lacked any real suspense or twist. Still, worth a look.

Movie goer

Terrible, tiresome, tedious. This story is beautifully filmed and terribly told. At least half a dozen wasted opportunities where the audience has the briefest chance to engage - only to be let down again and again. Truly a waste of your time and money.

reg

much ado about nothing what a waste of a great story bring back the alec guiness version

reg

slow boring nothing happened what a waste of a good story

A K

Extremely slow, obscure, dark and over complicated, this movie fails to give the true picture of events during the Kim Philby, Blunt, Hollis era. I can't recommend it, not even to the fans of spy thrillers.. Just too boring.

Troy Campbell

Gary Oldman delivers the most masterful performance of his career in 2012’s first five star film. With a body of work that has centred around loud, extroverted and often vicious characters – Sid and Nancy, The Firm, State of Grace, True Romance, Leon the Professional, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Oldman goes against type with his portrayal of old-school spy George Smiley; he’s all subtle looks and measured body language, barely raising his voice and getting a hair out of place. Although undeniably his show, Oldman is not alone; Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds and John Hurt round out the cast to die for, each and every one of them filling their roles with intrigue and complexity. Behind the camera, Swede Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) brings his meticulous eye for detail and slow-burning shooting style to the proceedings, lending this espionage tale immense gravitas. To cap it all off, and ensure the movie’s place in the highest echelon of cinema, the score by Alberto Iglesias is fantastically atmospheric and the soft-lensed cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema is outstanding. Tinker Tailor is utterly absorbing and entirely classy – for those who enjoy intelligent thrillers it’s near-on perfect.

Timbok

slow, boring and nothing happened

Peter

This is a great adaptation of the novel. All of the atmosphere of Britain in the mid 60's. However there are 3 changes from the book. Firstly Jim Prideaux was shot in Czechoslovakia in a forest near the German border not in an arcade in Budapest. Second the ‘clear signal’ for the safe house where they met with the Soviet agent in London was milk bottles not an open vent and thirdly this is a spoiler so I’ll be obtuse, one of the major characters in the final scenes is not shot but has his neck broken in the book. Apart from that it is so riveting and true to Le Carre’s style

Sacha

Flawless movie.Beautifully shot, fantastic writing and great actors.

Mark G

Not the quickest paced movie you will see but beautifully crafted. If you appreciate fine acting and quality film making over fake Hollywood nonsense - you will rate this highly.

Gasparini

A little to convoluted for my liking and I am very patient, a film should have intrigue, not telegraph plot or intent and it should not make you feel you are doing a cryptic crossword puzzle

Jem

this was fantastic. and i hope everyone notices the talent of young benedict cumberbatch, we need more actors like him!

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