Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

London, 1973, and having just been squeezed out of The Circus (MI6 higher echelon) along with Control (Hurt), agent George Smiley (Oldman) is pulled out of retirement to painstakingly uncover the double agent working for the Soviets – work that Control had already begun, narrowing it down to five contenders. But the spy begins spying on his fellow spies, the quiet, meticulous, methodical Smiley is dealing with betrayal at home too…

THE VERDICT: Ex-MI6 agent John Le Carre’s slow-burning espionage novel proves a perfect match for Swedish director Tomas Alfredson (who made such a lingering and lasting impression with Let The Right One In). Oldman too has finally found his Oscar-worthy role, George Smiley (famously played by Alec Guinnness in the 1979 BBC TV series) being pretty much the antithesis of his earlier, highly affected scenery-chewing performances in the likes of Leon and True Romance. Alfredson captures the time and place beautifully – smoke-filled rooms, secrets and lies, damp tweed and Trebor Mints, whispers in corridors, the “wilderness of mirrors” (as 1970s CIA head James Angleton called it) that comes with the constant search for double agents, the quiet desperation that is, of course, the English way. Oh, and just in case you hadn’t twigged, his bowtie is really a camera.

If Beckett got a hold of Bond, this is what he might come up with.

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  ging-grr

  

  This movie shows the grittier, less glamorous and dare I say it but most likely truer side of the British Secret Service. You won't find a James Bond like character anywhere in this story of cold war treachery. They obviously decided they wanted a very subdued atmosphere as much of the movie is shot in very autumnal hues and you almost expect the film to get grainy like an overplayed VHS used to look. Because of the tone of the movie, this aged feel really adds to the overall enjoyment of this character lead drama. The performances are excellent, special mention has to go to Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy who really give their all in a movie with extraordinary performances from all involved. The script is really nicely paced, which considering the lack of action sequences is a feat by itself. This movie may actually have redefined what spy movies are to become. Maybe it's time for bond to hang up his keys to Aston Martin, who am I kidding, there will always be room for the action filled spy drama, but it's great to see a movie like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy getting a decent budget and being made properly. I hope to see many more films of this caliber in the genre as action movies are great fun but this had a genuinely great story and heart. I highly recommend this film to any movie fans out there, just don't expect lots of action.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  TheAngelicDiablo

  

  Classical slow building espionage at its finest.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  lulalah

  

  Loved it! Very stylish with a stellar cast. It was one of those movies that really made you want to live in that era and move in that society (not that you could trust anyone). It’s been a while since a good spy thriller has come along. The only down side was for me, that it didn’t quite keep to the book. I could understand them leaving out certain elements for time constraints, but there were some points where they just changed it completely. I feel that unless you’d read the book, you’d have missed a fair few references.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  JudiG

  

  Excellent old style movie – moody plot, terrific acting keep me engaged throughout and I hadn’t read the book

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Chad

  

  Great performances, good story that keeps you guessing. Well worth watching!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  elaineg

  

  A wonderful, well-written film with a brilliant cast- Gary Olman is a certainty for an Oscar nomination for his role as George Smiley, the British Secret Service agent charged with finding the double agent within the small group of top agents controlling the organisation. Absolute attention is demanded throughout the film in order to follow the complicated plot, but the viewer is rewarded with one of the best and smartest spy films for quite some time

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  Massman

  

  ..masterclass of acting!

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  adamzxzx

  

  It would appear that people who take the time to write reviews of movies and the general public are two quite different groups of people. Based on the cast and outstanding reviews of this film, I went to see it hoping for a fantastic, exciting, dramatic movie. Now don't get me wrong, the acting was fantastic, but apart from that i honestly don't think I could find anything positive to say. It was just, well, boring. Very little seemed to happen throughout the entire 2 hours and it just never seemed to really go anywhere. Perhaps I'd feel differently if I'd read the book, but I doubt it. An unfortunately dull, boring film which critics will undoubtedly love, but the general public will find tedious to say the least.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  darthrodney

  

  Thanks for the tickets movies.ie! (Apologies for the late review!). This is NOT a modern tense fast paced edge of seat movie, this is a throw back to movies of the period ... slow/ methodical and thoughtful ... which mirrors the George Smiley (Oldman) protagonist when you think about it. The slow pace will anger/bore many viewers but if you want action and things that go boom with your spys this is NOT the movie for you, go and rent a Bourne or Bond flick. This is beautifully acted and directed slow burning gentlemen spy movie.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  annapmurphy

  

  ZERO out of 5! Amazing actors in this movie, just a pity the actual movie was dreadful. Even when it was suppose to be tense and exciting .... it was boring!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Mr_Twist

  

  A real slow burner but pure quality Oldman at his best

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  Throughly enjoyable thriller which is wonderfully acted and with a great plot. The cast are all wonderful in particular Gary Oldman who is outstanding in the lead role (although John Hurt is magical in a his few scenes). Unforunately the matter of "who dunnit" is always kinda obvious, and so is a let down when it is exactly what you think it will be, but its a small complaint.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  eliza64

  

  The trailer they showed before the film is very frighting if you are of a nervous disposition. It is something about being afraid of the dark. Thanks I AM NOW ! I have read the book and I remember the BBC series but still I found this film hard to follow. Something to do with the free drink I consumed before the movie. I loved the 70's feel it was great to hear "All kinds of everything"on the radio at one stage. Thanks for the tickets movies.ie

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  It is one of the few films so visually absorbing, felicitous shot after shot, that its emotional coldness is noticed only at the end, when all the plot twists are unraveled in a solid piece of thinking-man's entertainment for upmarket thriller audiences.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  The_Dystopian

  

  Utterly gripping adaptation of Le Carré's work, with Oldman on masterful form, a superb supporting cast and the confident direction of Tomas Alfredson combining to create a mature and intelligent spy thriller.

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