Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
2011
**½
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Ciarán Hinds, Simon McBurney
George Smiley is a senior intelligence officer who is recalled from his forced retirement to uncover a Soviet mole at the top level of MI6. This intricate and confusing story, from John le Carré's novel, offers none of the fun, sex, and excitement usually associated with the spy genre. The pacing is dead slow and the scenes mostly feature somber men in suits talking in smoke-filled rooms. The Cold War era of 1973 seems like ancient history and the film is not able to convey what was at stake, or persuade that the events are relevant in 2011. However, the overall atmosphere feels authentically drab, and Tomas Alfredson stages a few eye-catching set pieces. His cast is very impressive and the performances are subtle but strong.
