Between Bond, Bourne, and Ethan Hunt, the past decade has seen an unbearable onslaught of conventional spy films. Thankfully, the newest effort in the age-old "spy" genre provides a nice departure from the usual fluff Swedish director Tomas Alfredson (helmer of 2008's internationally acclaimed horror "Let the Right One In") has truly done wonders with "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," a quiet, yet relentlessly gripping take on espionage cinema.
Based on John le Carré's 1974 novel (which had previously been adapted to a BBC miniseries featuring Alec Guinness), "Tinker Tailor" zones in on Britain's intelligence agency-fittingly dubbed "the Circus" amidst Cold War era Europe. After an agent is given away on a recon mission in Hungary, disgraced middle-aged spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is assigned to seek out a Soviet mole within the Circus' highest ranks.
The film is bolstered with remarkable performances from its ensemble cast, especially the lead. With his restrained but riveting portrayal of George Smiley, Oldman has demonstrated once again that he is one of the finest, most versatile actors of our time. He completely captured the Smiley character's low-key, soft-spoken demeanor. One can only hope that Oldman (whose diverse array of roles include Sex Pistols' guitarist Syd Vicious and Dracula) gets the attention he deserves this awards season.
"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" also features very strong supporting turns from the rapidly up-and-coming Tom Hardy (of last year's critical darling Warrior as well as this summer's hotly anticipated "Batman" sequel) and Brit film veteran John Hurt as a character known only as "Control," the Circus's director. Colin Firth has a bit part as well, putting on a good show that won't make you nod off like you did during his previous film, "The King's Speech."
Alfredson's skilled direction effectively captures the paranoid essence of the espionage world. With numerous shots of the Circus' dark quarters and smoky boardroom meetings, he creates a confining atmosphere in which anyone and everyone is suspect. Spanish composer Alberto Iglesias' thrilling score heightens the film's pressing aura of tension and urgency.
What will ultimately divide people over "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" is it's pacing. Unlike the brainless "Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol," the picture is dialogue driven with a plot that unfurls slowly. Refreshingly, there is not a single explosion or any nifty gadgets. Instead of cliché shoot-outs and fight scenes, "Tinker Tailor" is defined by a storyline far more clever and thought-out than any spy film of recent memory.
Grade: A
