My favorite espionage film!

Director Tomas Alfredson crafted the ultimate slow burn spy thriller. Whispers and traitors are around every corner in this Cold War tale that is chilling. The crystal clear shots and cinematography transport you to another time. The period accurate outfits and makeup create a verisimilitude to the time.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a thoughtful take on complex spy narrative. Filled with political intrigue if you are willing to follow along. The music from composer Alberto Iglesias wrote the most beautiful and understated score for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. There is sweet jazz and lots of delicate piano melodies to listen to while you watch.

Notably, the acting from the entire ensemble is excellent and nuanced. You get the greatest Gary Oldman performance in his career as the ever observant spy Smiley. Oldman's use of his eyes and face to act make for a rather understated role, but he is brilliant all the same. You are constantly wondering what he is thinking. It is a master class in reserved acting.

Furthermore, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy give their most reserved acting showing their versatility. Colin Firth, John Hurt, Simon McBurney, David Dencik, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, and Stephen Graham all deliver intricate performances to put you off who the mole is really. Svetlana Khodchenkova has a nice smaller role as a Russian informant that you will undoubtedly sympathize with by the end. All in all, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is well cast down to the smallest role.

In short, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an espionage film like no other. Clever and twisting through the spy world. You will certainly have to think to understand this well written plot, but the process is enjoyable to the end. I love this film and I hope more viewers will get the opportunity to experience it.

Not only does it remain as faithful as a two and a half hour movie can to one of the best spy novels of all time, but it paints a delicate portrait of spy craft at its most dangerous. Weaving a narrative through time like lace, the story doesn't so much unfold as it does drop lightly from the puppet master's hand and only when it reaches the floor do you realize what's happened. Even then, you marvel at the complex investigation Smiley (by far a better spy than Bond ever could be) puts together. It might take a viewing or two to understand just how George put it all together and untangle the mess of relationships and lies right before you. Some call it boring. Those people don't really like spy movies. This is not Bond or Bourne or other fanciful and bombastic movies filled with impossible gun fights and explosions. This is slow and deliberate and thoughtful. The cast is perfect and though Oldman is not Alec Guinness, he makes Smiley his own and equally brilliant and dangerous.

Well if you've wondered how can you make a dull, undramatic movie about Russian double agent spies, this is the way.

I can't understand all the good reviews as I was bored to a near catatonic state by this movie. Every performance employed the "whisper for dramatic effect" technique. It was if the director said "do not show ANY emotion" to all the actors.

The plot was confusing to the point of not caring anymore after 30 minutes or so. Boring, tedious, a waste of 2 hours.

This film production of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy makes my top 10 movie list of all time! The acting is great and I learn something new every time I watch it! Each character is unique, imperative, and amazing! I appreciate the historical nature of this film from the Cold War period.

First introduced to this amazing story through Netflix, it wasn't until I read reviews on Amazon that I discovered Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was, previously, a BBC produced series based on John le Carre's novel. At some point I'll probably purchase that too! But for the time being, I'm delighted to have added this fantastic film to my collection and won't have to worry about its availability coming to an end. I just love this story!

* One day later, I wish to report that I did not enjoy watching the Blu-ray Edition. Blu-ray may be fine for action flicks but, honestly, to me the less enhanced DVD Edition feels more authentic and true to the feeling of the place and the time of the story. The Blu-ray Edition feels too sharp, too strong, too vivid. Of course, this is merely my humble opinion and others may not agree.

I'm an idiot. I naturally assumed that this film starred Sir Alec Guinness. —I.e., the version made circa 1969. Alec IS Smiley and Smiley is Sir Alec. Anyone else is an imitation. So why does Amazon NOT have the original film??!! I am truly angry. I simply did not know that someone decided to take a few years out of his life and spend a few million dollars to remade a film that did NOT need remaking. NOT! This film did NOT need to be remade/ AUGHHHH! —Ripped of again by the big "A".
Calm...calm down. OK. I will try to write an unbiased review.

This is still a darn good flicker. 'Tis nowhere near the original version, but it is quality work. It retains much of what John le Carré intended. But, once youvb'e had top-drawer Darjeeling, it is difficult to go back to Brooke Bond.
One reviewer said, "1.0 out of 5 stars Boring Spy Snoozefest".
Oh dear. I simply had to check his profile...and sure enough his photo was clear and posted I simply needed to see what an utter twit looked like. Why would someone post their photo publicly on Amazon? I posted my photo, but not really...—have a look.
This movie is NOT a "snoozefest", but likely THE MOST REALISTIC spy flicker ever made. The film is more subtle. This film rewards repeat viewing. Is this the sign of a poor ciné film?!!
For some, reading the book will help. Indeed, the movie does seem to avoid the protagonist character (the villain), —alas, so does the book. (Unfortunately, for me, a dead giveaway.) Understand that this movie gives NOTHING away for free. You must WORK at understanding the scenes and dialogue. Americans like to be spoon fed, and this flick will NOT do that. If you feel this film is a "snoozefest" than, instead, try watching "Gidget Goes To Spanish Harlem". You may find Gidget better matches your intellect.
However, if your pay close attention and watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy a couple of times , you will have a high old time.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" — What happened to "Poorman"?
PS: The trade craft, as explained in the book, is deadly accurate for MI6. The movie is also accurate, but trade craft, by nature is NOT a show. John La Carré, after all, worked for the Home Office and MI5. He knows his stuff. Gee, I wish a Mossad agent would retire and write a similar book. But, this will never happen. One of many reasons why The Mossad is the best intel agency in the world. Mossad loyalty is beyond anything most people could understand. (PET is the second best agency)
BUT, sufficient clues ARE present in this movie.
One faint, but poignant clue; —Notice how Jim Prideaux as a teacher, befriends the outcast boy named "Bill", and says, "I've known a few fellows named 'Bill' in my time, and they have all been good-uns'." —Like "Bill" Hayden?
Watch this flick a few times, and stuff like this starts to hit you over the head.
ENJOY!!

I love spy movies. I love British TV and film. I don't love Gary Oldman, but he is decent in this thing.

Yet I must tell you, viewing this was not like watching paint dry: it was like watching dry paint stay dry.

With one exception, there is no character development of any of the seven or eight main people in the story. We don't know who they are and we don't care who is the mole. One supporting role is fleshed out enough to come to life, a former field agent named Ricki Tarr well played by Tom Hardy; but he isn't on the screen long enough to salvage a production that seems mired in endless silence and stiffness. The music is good (by Alberto Iglesias), but I would have preferred a story with it.

I had to watch The Russia House again to regain my faith.

This is an adaptation of the famous John le Carre spy novel. I saw it when it first came out in a theater and was not impressed. In fact I was downright bored at times due to the plodding style. This is something that many other movies based upon la Carre’s work have in common. Since then I’ve seen it several times and come to really appreciate it. That’s a warning however that one needs to be very patient with this film to really enjoy it. The story is about the British foreign intelligence agency MI6 hunting down a Soviet mole within the service. As John Hurt who plays the head of MI6 says “There’s a rotten apple” and they have to find it.

Gary Oldman plays the lead character who is hunting down the spy. The movie is all about him meticulously putting together one little piece of evidence after another until he figures out the case. It’s the reason why the story moves so slowly because it’s not like most films where they start investigating and then there’s the big break and everything turns into an action flick afterward. Instead it’s like putting together a jigsaw puzzle and at the end it’s about betrayal as the mole turns out to be someone everyone knew for years.

Oldman shines as usual. He plays an old hand at MI6. You can see the wear on his face with some great make-up and it’s taken a personal toll as well with his marriage. Tom Hardy as a strung out agent, Mark Strong who is affected the most personally, and Hurt even though he only appears a few times also stand out for their performances.

In the end you really have to wait for the payoff in this movie but it is well worth it.

If your a true diehard John Le Carre fan as i was .....
Youll be surprised to know , the best thing on This ( Bluray ) is John Le Carres Interview .
He explains that its not the Book Version of Story but a fictional version as seen through the eyes of the director .
Otherwise youll be screaming over and over as i did ( Thats not true ) and ( That wasnt in the Book ) throughout the viewing of the Film . Why they did it this way is beyond me , but im sticking to the ( Alec Guinness ) Version of smiley as i prefer him to be . So now your heads up before you see this stretch of the imagination version of what the story was about .
There were some insightful shots of the mothers work room which i had already imagined in the book .
The sound room was an idea they got from ( Spy Game )
And alot of the story is just very mixed up ....which if you hadnt read the book you wold be totally confused.
As i mentioned before ( John Le Carre ) explains all the changes in his interview on the Disc
At least watch that , as he tells a few more secrets as well .
The Move... ( Nah ) i hated it ....in a good way .