Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Jan 04, 2012
By Laurence Boyce

Director: Tomas Alfredson

Whilst we’re used to the world of James Bond and his lavish notions of sex, violence and beautiful locations, this adaptation of John Le Carre’s classic spy novel is a stylish affair that throws out the notions of the accepted spy movie and replaces them with a grey and austere depiction of life during the Cold War. But this makes it no less exciting or engrossing.

England. 1970s. Retired spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman in a remarkably measured yet engaging performance) is enticed back to the ‘circus’ – i.e. the British Secret Service – after suspicions of there being a traitor in the highest ranks. With the aid of Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberhatch, who gives a fine support performance) he must covertly attempt to discover the person who is working for the Russians. But with deceit, murder and corruption rife, Smiley’s job may be a lot harder than he thinks.

Swedish director Tomas Alfredson has crafted a meticulous film whose careful visual style mirrors the intricately structured plot. Indeed the film is densely layered (doing a good job of condensing the original book) but it never feels too drawn out and rolls along at an incredible pace. With a blanched out color scheme and great use of ’70s architecture, the film manages to be grimly beautiful whilst a superb soundtrack adds to the film’s ambience.

Aside from performances from Oldman and Cumberhatch, there’s an all-star cast (amongst them Mark Strong, John Hurt and Colin Firth) who are all excellent, and the ensemble do well with the material. Whilst often very serious and dour, there are enough moments of subtle humor (such as the Office Christmas Party in which all the English secret service sing along to the Russian national anthem) to balance the film whilst a sub-plot about Smiley’s estranged wife is handled with care and subtlety.

Endlessly intriguing, wonderfully performed and brilliantly photographed this is a great modern spy picture that is rooted firmly in the past.

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