Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (film version)

[Toscana]

Give the BBC Radio4 adaptation a listen. More true to the book than the TV series and IMHO much better than the film.

[CaptainWaggett]

Not sure what I thought of this. The first half crawled along at a snail's pace and instead of the lingering shots would have been better filled fleshing out the main "suspects" lives so you actually felt some emotion when "Spy" was revealed. I don't know whether to put spoilers in or whether everyone is fully aware of the story! I saw the film with someone who hadn't read the book or seen the tv series and he knew who the spy was long before the end, because the actor was so underused.

That dramatic flaw is much the same in the tv series though. The mole isn't in it nearly as much as the other suspects. But I think it's a real problem that you don't really care about or find out anything personal about any of the characters so I really wasn't very fussed about who the spy was, (though it might have made an interesting twist to changed his indentity for this adaptation though since all the suspects are interchangeable it wouldn't really have made much difference).

[Windyridge]

That dramatic flaw is much the same in the tv series though. The mole isn't in it nearly as much as the other suspects. But I think it's a real problem that you don't really care about or find out anything personal about any of the characters so I really wasn't very fussed about who the spy was, (though it might have made an interesting twist to changed his indentity for this adaptation though since all the suspects are interchangeable it wouldn't really have made much difference).

Yes I agree, which is why

  Spoiler:

casting an Oscar winning movie star as one of the suspects immediately tells you he's the spy. Like the most famous guest star in Midsomer Murders was always the murderer in earlier series.

When I am marvelling at how Gary Oldman can stare for so long without blinking, it tells me I'm not really riveted by what I'm supposed to be watching.....

[dremble wedge]

Saw it today and thought they did an excellent job of compressing the material to two hours. Having read the book and seen the BBC version I knew who the mole was so I can't comment on how I would have reacted had I gone in blind, but I loved the general tone of the piece and found it completely riveting.

They have mucked around with the Jerry Westerby character so I don't imagine they'll take on The Honourable Schoolboy next, but with the critical acclaim and box office it's getting, I don't think we're far away from a film of Smiley's People

[Windthrop]

Saw it today and thought they did an excellent job of compressing the material to two hours. Having read the book and seen the BBC version I knew who the mole was so I can't comment on how I would have reacted had I gone in blind, but I loved the general tone of the piece and found it completely riveting.

They have mucked around with the Jerry Westerby character so I don't imagine they'll take on The Honourable Schoolboy next, but with the critical acclaim and box office it's getting, I don't think we're far away from a film of Smiley's People

Agree about Smiley's People

[Chevyman]

When I first heard about the plans for a re-make I was very sceptical. The BBC TV production, for me, would always be the benchmark so why do it again? That production also had a very strong supporting cast which included a bravura performance from Vladek Sheybal?


This evening, I ate my words. It did crawl a bit after the shooting in Budapest but I was mesmerised by a mixture of how the film re-workedthe plot (of both the BBC production and the novel). Mrs Chevy found the "flashback sequences" hard to keep up with at times.

Gary Oldman had a hard act to follow but he triumphed by placing his own stamp on "Smiley", doing it his way yet keeping it credible. It kept striking me how much John Hurt resembled Alexander Knox!

I agree about "Smileys People". I think it has to be done?

Honourable Schoolboy? Not sure?

As soon as this is available on DVD, I will be placing my order

[sisterluke]

Mesmerised is right, Chevyman. I went to see the film largely because of the great British cast (and they were all very good) but came away stunned by the visual impact. Will keep an eye out for future work by Tomas Alfredson. I didn't care that I couldn't always understand what was happening. I couldn't understand the TV version either and I found that extremely over-rated. I did become emotionally involved with the characters in the film and will never forget the 'smile on the face of the tiger'. I hope those who have seen the movie will understand to whom I am referring.

Great to have a chance to discuss new British films and great that there are a few still worth discussing.

[Chevyman]

Mrs Chevy and I caught a late afternoon showing (1630). We were among four people who made up the audience

When we adjourned to Nandos afterwards the restaurant was heaving

Doesn't add up?

[Tigon Man]

Mrs Chevy and I caught a late afternoon showing (1630). We were among four people who made up the audience

When we adjourned to Nandos afterwards the restaurant was heaving

Doesn't add up?

Perhaps it depends on where you are Chevy. I live in God's Waiting Room (Worthing) and when i went to the four thirty showing of Tinker Tailor, it was pretty crowded.

[Merton Park]

I watched the Alec Guinness tv version a few weeks ago, having bought the double box set and saw the new Cinema version this week. Extremely disappointed with the big screen version, Gary Oldman gives a very convincing impersonation of Guinness, close your eyes and it really sounds like him. Overall the tv version is far superior and whilst I was really looking forward to this, for me, it was a huge let down.

[wadsy]

I watched this at the Cinema today. I went in there knowing the story & I enjoyed it very much. Of course it

doesn't compare to the TV series, the story is condensed & cannot possibly show some of the subtleties & intrigues that the TV version had.

I thought the cast were excellent & I also will be looking out for future work from Mr Alfredson.

It was a morning screening & at 50 years plus I must have been the youngest person in there. It was a fair crowd as well!

[tavistock]

I agree with Wadsy's comments, just watched the TV series and it is far better than the film, but it must be 6 hours long so not surprising really. It helped that the TV version was shot without the need to look like the 1980s, you really did feel that the wallpaper was real and genuinely awful and not a prop!

[didi-5]

Just watched this on DVD. A bit disappointing as the much reduced running time leaves no room for character or plot development. Yes, the cast are good, and Gary Oldman deserves his Oscar nod, but I feel such a complex and involved story needs time and space to develop, and it all feels bitty and disjointed here.

I have the TV series on DVD too so will get around to watching it soon.

[narabdela]

Just watched this on DVD. A bit disappointing as the much reduced running time leaves no room for character or plot development. Yes, the cast are good, and Gary Oldman deserves his Oscar nod, but I feel such a complex and involved story needs time and space to develop, and it all feels bitty and disjointed here.

I have the TV series on DVD too so will get around to watching it soon.

In my experience, people who hadn't read the book or seen the tv adaptation were rather bemused by the film's ending.

[didi-5]

Well, I knew what the ending was (or at least, who the mole was). I just didn't really care enough about the film's characters and didn't find any suspense built up at all. Rather a waste of a good cast.

[captainhaddock]

i watched this on dvd last night
very good !
although not the easiest plot to follow
i thought mark strong put in just as good a performance as oldman

[Jody Slater]

I was really looking forward to watching this at the cinema but sadly I was overruled by the boyfriend so had to wait for the DVD release. I still haven't got around to reading the book so it was nice to go along for the ride as they intended you to with no preconceptions. At points I did feel that something was missing (as in a chunk of back story) but it didn't hold me back and I was stunned with Oldman's performance and how understated he plays it (how often to you get mesmorised by a character sitting still and listening to another character talking)
I have to agree that you do not really care about who is the mole or not, when it is revealed I did feel like "oh okay then" but I will definitely give it another watch sometime to take more in.

The other half will disagree on all points though...he fell asleep after 15 minutes....you can't win them all.

[batman]

Excellent film ... fine performances by Oldman, Strong and Cumberbatch. A must see for all spy film fans, especially those of the 60s/70s, as it had the same kind of feel to it.