Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Actor-tastic adaptation of the 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) – his first English-language film.
In the bleak days of the Cold War, middle-aged, taciturn, espionage veteran George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6's echelons, dubbed the "Circus" by those who work there.
A previous adapation was made in 1979 as a seven-part series for BBC, featuring Alec Guiness as George Smiley.
- Director:
- Tomas Alfredson ('Let the Right One In')
- Writer:
- Bridget O'ConnorPeter Straughan
- Cast:
- Gary OldmanColin FirthTom HardyMark StrongBenedict CumberbatchJohn HurtCiarán HindsStephen GrahamToby JonesAmanda Fairbank-Hynes
Reviews & comments
Intelligent Filmmaking, Epic Acting!
I was originally drawn to this film because of the massive range of absolutely stunning actors - I mean, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy... all in one movie?! YES PLEASE. They did not disappoint, either! The slow pacing was a refreshing change from other 'wham-bam' films these days, and I am in awe of the attention to detail. All...
Beautifully crafted, yet slightly...archaic.
Really, wildly, completely brilliant in it's recreation of an era and a secret service, yet TTSSpy's plotting and sweetly taciturn characters make it drag a little. But you're always delighted by what you see, and you're always trying to figure out what's going on, so there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. It's just that the pace and the timing is from...
Jason bourne? Bro, real spys do it drunk!
I wasnt sure what to expect, but, thats Gary Oldman for you. Nice to see him with a hard-to-deliver Character this time showing his full arsenal of delayed and timed speech capped of with what my mum would call -elocution? the only Man that trusts Batman, the dreadlock wearing drug dealer, and the completely wrong haircut bad guy holds this slow, yet...
When spying was low tech with knobs and switches.
Looking back at the cold war it would seem that spying was a career created to keep civil servants in work. Everyone was spying for everyone and those who weren't spying were keeping the spies under control.This was in incredible mini-series once upon a time with Alec Guiness as George Smiley. The movie holds up well against it with terrific performances...
A stunning evocation of the Cold War era
We have been looking forward to this film and we were not disappointed. It is outstanding, as we have come to expect of the Brits with films of this nature. Further, this movie is a worthy rendition of John Le Carre's famous novel; Le Carre was an executive producer and plays a non-speaking part in a crowd scene. The casting, settings and cinematography...
Baby it's cold outside...
Tomas Alfredson's 'Let The Right One' was a stunning revisioning of the vampire genre - bleak, cold, moody, austere and wonderful to behold. So what of his version of Le Carre's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'? Well, it too is moody and austere. A slow-burn experience amidst the flash, bang, wallop of the likes of 'Tintin' and 'MI: Ghost Protocol.'...
Impenetrable stillness..
Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson is nothing if not ambitious. Following the success of 2008′s Let The Right One In (one of the finest films of the past decade), the director turned his attention to John le Carre's beloved novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, previously adapted into a highly regarded BBC mini-series in 1979, for his English language debut. All...
Total Film
pressPrepare to lose yourself – in every sense – in a labyrinth of double-agents, deception and damn fine acting from the year’s best British line-up.
Time Magazine
pressTinker Tailor Soldier Spy is so elegant, deliberate and smart that it’s a shocker it got made.
The Telegraph
pressIt’s possible that this brooding, slow-burn approach to storytelling may seem old-fashioned to anyone weaned on the breathless chase sequences of modern espionage thrillers such as the Bourne or Mission: Impossible series.
The New Yorker
pressIn all its forms, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy strikes the eye, and other senses, as demonstrably real.
The Guardian
pressA brilliant study of the disenchantment, compromise and tension of the 1970s spy game.
IndieWire
pressWhen a film has so many attributes—including superior performances and a tangible sense of time, place, and atmosphere—it’s tempting to overlook its shortcomings.
Hollywood Reporter
pressJohn Le Carré’s complicated, distanced Cold War classic turns into a visual delight with an authentic British feel.
Empire Magazine
pressUtterly absorbing, extremely smart and - considering this is a sad, shabby, drably grey-green world of obsessives, misfits, misdirection, disillusionment, self-delusion and treachery - quite beautifully executed.
Daily Mail
pressIf you’re in the mood for expertly handled tension, subtle menace and superior acting by everyone involved, this is not to be missed.
A.V. Club
pressIts dealings and double-dealings will probably be better understood on a second viewing, but it only takes one to appreciate Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as a film.
Total Film
pressPrepare to lose yourself – in every sense – in a labyrinth of double-agents, deception and damn fine acting from the year’s best British line-up.
Time Magazine
pressTinker Tailor Soldier Spy is so elegant, deliberate and smart that it’s a shocker it got made.
The Telegraph
pressIt’s possible that this brooding, slow-burn approach to storytelling may seem old-fashioned to anyone weaned on the breathless chase sequences of modern espionage thrillers such as the Bourne or Mission: Impossible series.
The New Yorker
pressIn all its forms, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy strikes the eye, and other senses, as demonstrably real.
The Guardian
pressA brilliant study of the disenchantment, compromise and tension of the 1970s spy game.
IndieWire
pressWhen a film has so many attributes—including superior performances and a tangible sense of time, place, and atmosphere—it’s tempting to overlook its shortcomings.
Hollywood Reporter
pressJohn Le Carré’s complicated, distanced Cold War classic turns into a visual delight with an authentic British feel.
Empire Magazine
pressUtterly absorbing, extremely smart and - considering this is a sad, shabby, drably grey-green world of obsessives, misfits, misdirection, disillusionment, self-delusion and treachery - quite beautifully executed.
Daily Mail
pressIf you’re in the mood for expertly handled tension, subtle menace and superior acting by everyone involved, this is not to be missed.
A.V. Club
pressIts dealings and double-dealings will probably be better understood on a second viewing, but it only takes one to appreciate Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as a film.
Intelligent Filmmaking, Epic Acting!
I was originally drawn to this film because of the massive range of absolutely stunning actors - I mean, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy... all in one movie?! YES PLEASE. They did not disappoint, either! The slow pacing was a refreshing change from other 'wham-bam' films these days, and I am in awe of the attention to detail. All...
Beautifully crafted, yet slightly...archaic.
Really, wildly, completely brilliant in it's recreation of an era and a secret service, yet TTSSpy's plotting and sweetly taciturn characters make it drag a little. But you're always delighted by what you see, and you're always trying to figure out what's going on, so there's plenty of enjoyment to be had. It's just that the pace and the timing is from...
Jason bourne? Bro, real spys do it drunk!
I wasnt sure what to expect, but, thats Gary Oldman for you. Nice to see him with a hard-to-deliver Character this time showing his full arsenal of delayed and timed speech capped of with what my mum would call -elocution? the only Man that trusts Batman, the dreadlock wearing drug dealer, and the completely wrong haircut bad guy holds this slow, yet...
When spying was low tech with knobs and switches.
Looking back at the cold war it would seem that spying was a career created to keep civil servants in work. Everyone was spying for everyone and those who weren't spying were keeping the spies under control.This was in incredible mini-series once upon a time with Alec Guiness as George Smiley. The movie holds up well against it with terrific performances...
A stunning evocation of the Cold War era
We have been looking forward to this film and we were not disappointed. It is outstanding, as we have come to expect of the Brits with films of this nature. Further, this movie is a worthy rendition of John Le Carre's famous novel; Le Carre was an executive producer and plays a non-speaking part in a crowd scene. The casting, settings and...
Baby it's cold outside...
Tomas Alfredson's 'Let The Right One' was a stunning revisioning of the vampire genre - bleak, cold, moody, austere and wonderful to behold. So what of his version of Le Carre's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'? Well, it too is moody and austere. A slow-burn experience amidst the flash, bang, wallop of the likes of 'Tintin' and 'MI: Ghost Protocol.'...
Impenetrable stillness..
Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson is nothing if not ambitious. Following the success of 2008′s Let The Right One In (one of the finest films of the past decade), the director turned his attention to John le Carre's beloved novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, previously adapted into a highly regarded BBC mini-series in 1979, for his English language debut....
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