Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) by Tomas Alfredson (REVIEW)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a total contrast to most films that handle this topic. He is not just a spy film, but a movie for people who live in a world where the slogan "Trust No One" is leading.

The film begins when Control, the Director of the Circus (British Intelligence Secret Service), expresses doubts that there is a Soviet "mole" at the top of the Circus. That's why he sends an agent in Budapest to collect information. The plan fails when the agent's identity is revealed. The operation itself has been declared a fiasco and Control is forced to retire prematurely. His assistant, Smiley (Gary Oldman) is forced to do the same. After a year, Smiley receives an offer from the government to investigate allegations of the existence of a dual agent.

What makes this film so remarkable? First, the Swedish director, Let The Right One, conveyed the authentic atmosphere and the inevitable paranoia that ruled during the Cold War in the world of intelligence. Furthermore, the cast of the British acting (for example, the Oscar-winner Colin Firth) has been assembled in the cast. The glamour is so good that the film can be shown at the Drama lectures.

Another tremendous advantage of Tinker Tailor is Smiley, the character of Oldman, but also Oldman himself. Smiley is a man who judging by appearance is tired, down and defeated. But below the surface is a man who is a master in his work, which must not be underestimated, and it is all realized through the quiet acting of Oldman, which shows that restraint can be a powerful weapon. With the character of Oldman, the authenticity of a typical British agent during the Cold War was retained. A guy who will not see him drinking a cocktail at a beach (Ala Bond), but more likely to see him sitting next to you in the 23rd. I do not need to comment much about Oldman. Phenomenal as always.

The film has one flaw, lots of information and characters are collected in this two hour movie. It is therefore sometimes difficult to follow and requires close attention and patience.