Film Review – Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

They might perform poorly in the blockbuster stakes, but the Brits come into their own with two film genres: low-budget comedies about the plucky working classes triumphing over adversity, and lavish period pieces, often starring Colin Firth. Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, in the latter category, was therefore looking like a good bet.

Based on the classic John le Carré spy novel of 1974, the story has already been brought to the screen once, in a classic seven-part BBC series. The key phrase here being seven part: the film condenses events to a running time of just over two hours.

This poses a significant problem: so much plot has to be crammed in that unless the viewer is already steeped in Smiley (the central character) and the story, TTSS the movie at times verges on the impenetrable. This is not helped by a reliance on flashback.

As in most espionage flicks, the central premise is: who is the double agent? Is it national treasure Colin? Is it that nice young man who plays Sherlock Holmes on the BBC? Is it one of that sinister cabal of chaps who sit around in smoky rooms? The difficulty is that so many characters are introduced in the first part of proceedings that the novice is likely to struggle to work out who they are all, let alone spot subtle clues as to whether they might be the mole.

Another problem is that TTSS is – barring the odd classily executed action sequence – rather staid. Bond and Bourne have set a blueprint for spy films that includes exotic locations and regular thrills and spills, and while TTSS deserves credit for its cerebral eschewing of glamour and gimmicks, there does seem to be a superfluity of low-key office scenes featuring men in brown suits.

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But there’s a lot to admire here too. The production values and performances ooze class. TTSS is clearly ambitious, confident and high minded. And by about three quarters of the way through, by which time even the most baffled newcomer should have worked out what’s going on, there’s tension in the dénouement. The seventies are brought beautifully to life, with their badly fitting brown suits and smoke-filled offices, while it’s all dispatched to a stellar soundtrack.

Clearly many viewers and critics did understand and like it – or at least say they did – as the film has recently garnered three Oscar nominations amid a slew of other accolades. So unless TTSS virgins are willing to spoil the surprise of the ending by gemming up with the novel, the TV series or Wikipedia in advance, perhaps this is a film best served by a second viewing.

Debbie Stowe

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds
On: Cinema City Cotroceni, Cinema City Sun Plaza, Grand Cinema Digiplex Baneasa, Hollywood Multiplex, Studio, The Light Cinema