Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Released: 2011

Directed By: Tomas Alfredson

Starring: Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy

Certificate: 12A

Reviewed By: Darryl Griffiths

It is well documented that this adaptation of the original works from John Le Carre was under pressure to deliver the goods on a cinematic level. With a successful TV interpretation under its belt, it boasted household names in the form of Alec Guinness for example, who undertaken the key role of George Smiley. So.. No pressure for Gary Oldman and co then! But as soon as the title credits roll in, all doubts and fear are emphatically extinguished.

As Smiley, Oldman leads a remarkably assembled acting ensemble in this version that is heavily reliant on mood and atmosphere, as well as depicting an absorbing but murky world that spies soon grow accustomed to.

The plotline essentially revolves around a team of Secret Intelligence operatives called the Circus, headed up by Control (John Hurt) who are dealing with an international incident. It is known to them that an agent called Prideaux (Mark Strong) sent to Budapest (the film’s impeccably staged first sequence) has been shot down by operatives originally based in Russia. This leads to suspicions that there is an informant in the ranks and resignations by Control and Smiley. But as you would expect in such a field, a secret assignment is undertaken. Smiley is rehired unbeknown to many, to get to the bottom of it and is ably assisted by Peter Guillam and Ricky Tarr (Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy respectively).

Queue unpicking the brains of other Circus members, 5 in all. Strangely, Smiley is identified alongside the bossy and self centred Percy (Toby Jones), slimeball at first glance Bill (Colin Firth), former soldier Roy (Ciaran Hinds) and Toby (David Dencik). Director Tomas Alfredson, hot off the heels of the well received Swedish vampire flick Let The Right One In, has no doubt crafted a classic here. His framing and composition of shots are picturesque quality, relying on visual metaphors to help the story along instead of heavy handed dialogue which could have worn audiences down and the production as a whole has more style than London Fashion week.

It may be delicately paced and short on bombastic thrills, compared to say a James Bond or a Bourne film. But Alfredson should be praised for portraying the life of a spy in such a realistic fashion, where the questioning of loyalty and double crossing is a paramount fixture and not the glorified dream of a job it’s audiences are normally led to believe. But when you’ve got a high calibre cast like this on board, it’s hard not to be engaged with the material. Oldman especially is a magnetic presence as always and i sincerely hope he finally gets an award nod for his performance here. But the rest of the cast really do excel in accentuating their character’s personality traits.

Unashamedly British and gripping from start to finish, if this doesn’t sweep the board come awards season.. it would be a travesty. PHENOMENAL!