Movie Details
| Title: | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | |
| Director: | Tomas Alfredson | |
| Year: | 2011 | |
| Genre: | Spy | |
| Times Seen: | 2 | |
| Last Seen: | 11.05.21 |
Other Movies Seen By This Director (1)
- Let the Right One In
| Date Viewed | Venue | Note |
| 11.05.21 | Internet | I remember fully expecting to love this when it came out and then being slightly lost by the plot? I remember making a note about everyone rocking their long thinning hair 70s-style but that's about it. Since then, I feel like I didn't do the movie justice... maybe I watched it while tired or something? Anyway, I've off an on thought about going back for a re-watch and today is that day. I really liked it a lot. I'm not sure people like Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch were as big ten years ago as they are now? Certainly I'm more familiar with Ciaran Hinds and Toby Jones, so everyone's characters are that much more cemented in my mind, perhaps making the plot that much easier to follow (which I'm happy to report I did). Furthermore, I think everything about the look and feel of the film is just about perfect. It looks like it was shot in the 70s to me. The long lenses, diffuse lighting, muted palate, everything is spot on. And script-wise this is about as good as I can ask a spy movie to get. Almost no violence but every line is laden with meanings and the economy of Smiley's emotions and movement are astounding. So yeah... I think this is what I want James Bond to be even though James Bond is really an action hero, and that's probably why I don't love James Bond movies. I did love this though, very much. |
| 07.22.12 | Netflix | Gary Oldman and a really solid supporting cast play 70s British intelligence officers, one of whom is a MOLE!!!!!!!!! Seriously though, this is a wonderful throwback to the hardcore spy movies of the 60s and 70s. And by that I mean the serious ones like The Spy Who Came In From The Cold or Three Days of the Condor... The Quiller Memorandum... and less the spoofs or goofs like the Flint and Matt Helm stuff. Completely straight, no action really, lots of talking that you really have to strain to follow, and still you kind of have to watch it a second time to really follow each beat. I really thought these movies died in the 80s and it's pretty awesome to see another one pop up. And talk about that cast. In the beginning of the movie, we see John Hurt, the head dude, step into a room of his senior staff. In one shot you're introduced to Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, some other dude, and Gary Oldman. The guy I don't know does a great job too but still... all these actory type actors all around the same table. Fuck yeah. The cast is padded out by Guy Ritchie favs, Tom Hardy, and a few other random familiar faces. I love how since it's the 70s people totally embrace balding. I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen so many actors with non-shaved balding heads. it's great. One scene in particular one guy (who I remember seeing somewhere, had to look it up to realize he was one of the husbands in Friends with Money) is just out of a gym shower after raquetball and his hair is CRAZY all over the place. Awesome. So yeah, this movie took me a while to pull me in but by the end of the first hour I was firmly embraced. I just love how substantive it is. Gives me some faith that maybe more of these adult (in the most non-porn way imaginable) movies might get made. And of course, Oldman was fantastic and understated and quiet. A master at work, you know? ok, gushing over I guess. |
