During the Cold War, the decisions that left the world on the brink between life as they knew it and total annihilation was put in the hands of men; courageous and powerful men, but men none the less.But what happens when these men begin to lose trust in the very foundations in which they have devoted their lives and effort? What happens when even the girl who pours your coffee or the office gofer is someone you suddenly can't trust? These themes are explored in classic espionage thriller style in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" this formal and slow-burning stunner based on the novel by John le Carre.
It's London, 1973, and when it's discovered the Soviets have placed a mole inside of British Intelligence (aka The Circus), some of the highest ranked and most secretive operatives (with the code names of tinker, tailor, soldier, and spy) become the suspects. Now it's up to George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a former operative forced into retirement, and a secret team of some of the bureau's youngest operatives to find the true story, stop the Soviets, and eradicate the mole before the world is brought even closer to the nuclear disaster.
Told through a mix of removes, asides, and present-day tension, and all kept close to the vest, Swedish director Tomas Alfredson ("Let the Right One In") along with his team of craftsman have been able to forge a thriller that is able to feel fresh and new as well as give John Le Carre another stirring adaptation of his work to film. The early stages of the film are a bit tedious and dense as we, just like Smiley, try to navigate the different pieces he's investigating as well as try to figure out the timeline of when did this happen and how long ago. But, Alfredson has created such a consistent vision for his film that every piece, from the acting down to the lovely and tricky score by Alberto Iglesias is distinct enough without feeling and melded into something uninteresting and bland. The art direction in particular, with it's minute and special pieces of design and set decoration gives shading and color to what could have easily been a series of office buildings and dark alleys.
While other choices such as tight, dense editing and a beautifully muted color palette certainly help carve this tale of paranoia and intrigue, the performances really do the best for bringing this story to life. Younger British actors Benedict Cumberpatch ("Atonement," "War Horse") and Tom Hardy ("Inception" and "Warrior") each play the more novice operatives, still working in the field, that try as hard as they can not to become personally invested in their cases.
But no matter how they try, "the job" can't help but overtake their personal lives, their desires, and their nerves. In such a gorgeous stroke, you can actually see each of them in different moments looking and marveling at the veterans and how they can push their lives aside in favor of this thing, this system, that's greater than them. Hardy particularly has such a emotional maturity to his performance.
The greatest and most mature performance in the film is done by the god-like Gary Oldman though, who is able to fade into background without ever being forgotten. In a chameleon-like career of loonies, crazies and whackjobs ("Sid and Nancy," "True Romance," and "Bram Stoker's Dracula" just to name a few) Oldman has always been capable of the wild and the outrageous.
But with George Smiley, and the sleek and sophisticated homogeneity of the picture, he's transfixing. He changes his voice to almost sound like someone else; we know it's still Oldman, but it's just a tad bit off; leaving us transfixed. He's a man watching the world and the way in which he's always spied change right in front of him, and he can't help but try to catch up before he's washed away.
"These are the times that try mens' souls" the quote reads, and the film certainly does that. As Smiley, along with us, his entranced audience, realize who of the titular tinker, tailor, soldier, and spy is the actual rat, we see a deeper sadness within him because he has realized that his once indestructible Circus has fallen into other hands. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" certainly packs a wallop for a straight-forward spy thriller, but in true spy vs spy fashion, things are never merely as they appear. Grade: A-
With so much information being thrown at us, I wish that there was much more time for all of it to just sink in but I liked the fact that the film made you pay attention to every little detail as this story just kept building and building. Everybody here in this cast is great too, especially Oldman who perfectly brings this flick together. Good review. Check out mine when you get the chance.
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