Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2011 • 127 minutes

About this movie

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the long-awaited feature film version of John le Carres bestselling novel. Set at the height of the Cold War, the thriller follows retired agent George Smiley (Oldman), recently forced out from the Secret Intelligence Service, a.k.a. The Circus. Smiley finds himself sucked back into the shady world of espionage when he is contacted with information that The Circus has been infiltrated by a Soviet double agent. Unsure of who he can trust and with national security and the fate of the country in the balance, Smiley must work in secret to flush out the mole.

Ratings and reviews

Well, not that faithful really. Oldman manages to give a good performance as Smiley allowing me to see nuance that I had missed with Alec Guinness. All the supporting cast are excellent even if the script they follow departs from the Le Carre text. Certainly worth watching if you can cope with a slow pace that is lifted directly from the novel.

Brill narrative but not half dodgy... Witchcraft puts it well into focus though. And the acting is excellent throughout. This is one to watch again and again...

Captures the period and mood perfectly. Oldman is superb, and supporting cast is awesome and star studded without being overpowering or annoying.