Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Running Time: 127 minutes.

Media: Cinematic screening.

One of the hardest things one can do is take a book and turn it into a film. A number of books have successfully made it because they are part of a series. Other films, based on a singular storyline, however are the ones that tend to be heavily scrutinized and as a result usually end up coming up trumps. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is no exception to this rule.

John Le Carré, who originally wrote this book back in 1974 would be incredibly pleased with the results in my personal opinion. The film takes place back in 1973, around the time Le Carré first published the novel, and the atmosphere and suspense in this film are kept remarkably well. The colors are washed out perfectly, the wardrobe and authenticity of the era are captured with clockwork precision. The only exception I could make was the haircut given to Benedict Cumberbatch who plays Peter Guillam, an associate of the main character, George Smiley, a retired agent with British Intelligence who has been summoned to investigate the possibility of a Russian mole within the current administration at British Intelligence.

This film at just over two hours, seems to be slow at first, as very little is said, particularly by Gary Oldman (who plays Smiley). However, despite the drab surroundings and often quite "loud" silences, the movie takes on a more biotic quality. It... for the lack of a better phrase, breathes.. the movie literally breathes and moves with the characteristic of a living thing... Although you think "Thank God, he's finally speaking..." you begin to wonder whether it's really all that necessary that he does!

This movie has been nominated for several awards at the Academy Awards as well as the BAFTAs... and a few others, taking eight out of the various nominations. I find that an amazing achievement, and I can see why. You are engaged from the get-go, and are taken on a ride as you play through the plots and paragraphs you would normally read in your head and see it unfold on the screen... up until the very end. It's really something incredible to behold.

I'm giving Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy my highest rating of 5 stars and hope that a few other of  Le Carré's other books are fortunate enough to be treated with as much relish to produce similar works of art.