Film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Cast includes: Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes), John Hurt (V for Vendetta), Gary Oldman (Batman Begins), Toby Jones (Frost/Nixon), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech), Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement), Tom Hardy (Inception)
Director: Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In)
Genre: Cold War Thriller, based on the John le Carré novel (2011)
The Budapest assignment isn’t strictly speaking above board, but there’s “an offer of service” that must be pursued… exposing the “mother of all secrets.” The Russians have planted a mole at the very top of British Intelligence… the Circus… and Control (the boss) is sending Jim Prideaux to get the name. When the mission goes wrong, it comes to be known simply as “that bloody mess in Budapest,” and ultimately there’s a shake up at the Circus. It’s time to shed some relics of the past. It’s 1973, and the old Cold Warriors are passé. Among those forced out are Control and espionage veteran, George Smiley. A year later Circus management is betting on “Operation Witchcraft” as their primary weapon against the KGB and Soviet spymaster Karla. And hopefully, they’ll also persuade the Americans to share intelligence. But the “Yanks still see the Circus as a leaky ship.”
In the meantime, more has come to light about that high-level leak. When Smiley is called back, George is quick to point out, “I’m retired. You fired me, Oliver.” But in the end, Smiley is lured out of retirement because he has no choice. “This could be the real thing.” As the plot thickens, Smiley uncovers many clues about the existence of the mole, but he is always a few steps behind when it comes to discovering the identity of the mole.
This isn’t the first time Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has been made into a film. Tinker, Tailor is the first of the Karla Trilogy by John le Carré. There are many variations of Cold War thrillers, but le Carré novels are considered the crown jewels of the genre. Le Carré narratives are never easy… nothing is obvious or spelled out for us, and there are multiple complex backstories that often don’t get explained. But that said… negotiating the labyrinth allows us to share the experience of uncovering the truth. There are no car chases or explosions, but the tension is palpable. Smiley isn’t a superhero… he’s simply the best in the business. This version of Tinker, Tailor makes the best possible use of modern filmmaking without ever looking like a modern film. The time and place is richly captured, steeped in alcohol, cigarette smoke and Slavic language fluency. While it’s hard to top Alec Guinness as George Smiley (1979), Gary Oldman’s performance is stunning. At times, his reaction is nothing more than a twitch of the eye. The entire cast is first rate. The filmmakers have been true to the genre in making us work to keep up… but then they reward us well for our efforts… albeit without fanfare. If you’re a fan of Cold War thrillers, they don’t get any better.
4 popped kernels
A masterful remake of a Cold War classic that will leave you wanting more
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream wide release
Mood: Neither upbeat nor somber
Tempo: Zips right along
Visual Style: High-end production
Character Development: Engaging
Language: Artful
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
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