Review of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) by Dave H — 05 Mar 2013

I've never read the book, or seen the Obi-Wan Kenobi version, but I suspect the only way this film really suffers from comparison is that it's much shorter and abridged. Yet you can hardly gripe about that, because this is about the finest adaptation that could be hoped for.

Masterfully produced, directed and performed, it's a stunningly cold, old school film in so many ways, no least of which is historical fascination for the Cold War, the Circus, and the-non burrowing varieties of mole.

So great to see a film where "files" refers to something that can be picked up. Beautifully observed perfs: stiff-upper lip reserve all around. Loved Strong and Hardy, but this is 100% owned by Gazza.

Great film. Apart from a mildly anti-climactic, whimper-not-bang denouement, the scripting is perfection, a great, economical distillation of what it apparently a much weightier novel. Great music too.