Film Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

If you’re looking for a fast paced action spy flick you can turn around and walk away right now. On the other hand, if you’re in the market for a slow-burn, thinking man’s (or woman’s) thriller with an emphasis on characters rather than explosions, then look no further than Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Tinker Tailor, based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré, is as much a film about spying as it is about the human being behind the sleuthing. It’s actually very surprising how much of the focus is placed squarely on what might be perceived as the mundane. While that might sound extremely boring and uninteresting it works wonders within the film. In effect it makes the plights of these otherwise old, stiff-upper-lip Brits very relatable and real. A fantastic device to establish this is a reoccurring flashback to an office Christmas party. This also serves as reminder that much of this is just another day at the office, even though the stakes are quite a bit higher than they would be for a regular desk jockey.

The film is structured as a series of interviews that Smiley, Gary Oldman, performs in an effort to discover who’s the mole embedded in the highest circle of the MI6. There’s an almost overwhelming amount of distrust between characters. That paired with the stakes at play make what is essentially a series one on one conversations incredibly tense and thrilling. You’re constantly kept on your toes and paying absolute attention is required at all times, especially due to the heavy use of jargon. If you’re not alert you won’t know what ‘The Circus’, ‘Control’ or other such things mean and in effect making the experience impenetrable because the film sees absolutely no reason to offer any straight up exposition.

Talking about the acting in the film is all but futile. Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Ciarán Hinds and John Hurt. Arguably the strongest male ensemble of the young millennium, or perhaps even in the history of film. They absolutely fulfill the expectations made of them, every single actor is simply outstanding. There is so much powerhouse acting in Tinker Tailor it could almost he considered a how-to course in acting. A thorough combing of the entire casts performances would require an excruciatingly long review, so instead we’ll focus on the standouts, Benedict Cumberbatch and Gary Oldman, with special mention to Mark Strong.

This is not the Gary Oldman you’re used to seeing. As George Smiley he’s virtually the polar opposite of Stansfield in Léon: The Professional. Smiley is stoic and often very silent, listening intently and analysing the situation presented before him. Oldman plays the role nigh on perfectly, especially when the curtains are pulled back and his seemingly stone cold exterior isn’t as solid as it seems. There’s an absolutely captivating scene in which the roles are reversed and it’s Smiley who’s telling the story instead of listening. It’s the only ‘interview’ which doesn’t feature a flashback, instead relying on Oldman to describe an encounter with the head of the Soviet covert branch. It’s simply mesmerizing. Oldman owns this film.

Benedict Cumberbatch solidifies himself as a star with his role here. He plays Smiley’s quasi-assistant, Peter Guillam, a lower level manager at MI6. It’s up to him to be the hands-on man and as such we follow him through many of the film’s most tense moments. Through him the themes of spying on one’s co-workers and friends are explored to great effect. He handles the material very well and presents the conflict within Guillam very well.

Tinker Tailor is a stunningly well directed film. Tomas Alfredson, of Let the Right One In fame, uses the language of cinema so effectively. The framing and editing subtly draws attention to the elements the viewer should be focusing on, while also telling them more than they might realize straight away. One of the best uses of this is the way one of Smiley’s primary weaknesses is portrayed, it’s subtle but when paired with Oldman’s performance it’s marvelously effective. On top of that Alfredson commands the gargantuan cast, both in size and talent, with great confidence, especially in light of the fact that this is his first English language film. Keep your eyes on him in the future.

Final Verdict: A fantastic low-key thriller and a fascinating exploration of Cold War era spying. The film’s only real fault is the handling of its climax, the reveal isn’t as impactful as it should have been. It’s not for everyone but don’t let that deter you from seeing one of the best acted and directed films of the last decade.

@Filmophilia and @Sveppi on Twitter & Filmophilia on Facebook

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