Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Author John LeCarre is highly acclaimed for his spy novels. The most highly acclaimed is 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'. So is the TV mini-series that was adapted from the novel. Which means this film had a lot to live up to.

As I sometimes do, I read the novel of this film before it was released. I found the book a little hard to read. LeCarre wrote it with slang terms for the people and places with in the spy agency. While I had a general idea of what was going on, I think I missed some of the details. It was still an excellent book but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I'd liked.

The film did help with its visual representation of events and people. The great thing about the film is that not all everything is explained. You have to look carefully and listen to what people are saying to get the full understanding of what is going on. Most films these days go out of their way to explain things and hammer certain points home so people understand them. It is the dumbing down of film making so that no one feels left out. Tomas Alfredson, who directed the brilliant 'Let The Right One In', has crafted a clever and intelligent film that makes you think about what is going on. The way he stages scenes and tells the story makes you feel like your in the hands of a skilled film maker. The look of the film with its costume and production design really make it look like it is not only set in the 1970's but made then as well. Writers Bridget O'Connor and Peter Staughan must also get credit for writing an excellent script. They have managed to keep all the important details and still make it a relatively short film considering the source material.

It is a testament to an actor when they play a role in a subtle way yet still have such a commanding performance. Gary Oldman does not do or say very much in the film. But he has a strong presence as he listens to people and gathers the information. He does not need to do much to let you know what he is thinking. Just little gestures and movements speak volumes. The suspects are an all equally shifty bunch. Colin Firth, Toby Jones and Ciaran Hinds all give excellent performances that make you suspect each of them equally. Tom Hardy is very good as is Mark Strong. Benedict Cumberbatch is starting to emerge into the spotlight now and he is excellent here.

If you're sick of all the big dumb blockbusters then make sure you check this film out. A smart, clever and intelligent film that forces you to think about what is going on. The information is not always given to you in an obvious way but subtly.