Review of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) by Jordan C — 23 Oct 2012

Itâ(TM)s becoming clear that our domestic film industry has developed a resolute method of standing up for itself. All it consists of is strength in numbers. Such is the quality of British acting talent that when a production is able to bring together the array of performers such as those in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, very good things start to happen. Thereâ(TM)s a tradition of ensemble acting in British cinema, with recent notable examples being Four Weddings, Gosford Park and of course the entire Harry Potter franchise. But weâ(TM)re in a different territory now â" this is a far cry from Love Actually.

Directed by the Swedish Tomas Alfredson, the man behind â~Let The Right One Inâ(TM), this is a film of component parts. The inner workings of MI6 in the peak Cold War years of the early 70â(TM)s would certainly suggest we have a thriller on our hands. But just as Alfredsonâ(TM)s previous movie used vampires, this also uses its context as a backdrop to a more primitive human drama.

I havenâ(TM)t read the book or seen the television series and I wonâ(TM)t attempt to explain the entire plot â" but it centres on an alleged betrayal amongst a group of men with unusual relationships. The levels of secrecy in their lives has brought them together and any splinter, such as the one that John Hurtâ(TM)s character Control suspects at the filmâ(TM)s opening, has potential to cause huge rifts both internationally, but also within this close-knit bunch of so-called allies. While theyâ(TM)re spies, this is no Bond movie and although thereâ(TM)s a mole, this isnâ(TM)t really a whodunit. But without the car chases and any gratuitous violence, it still remains very much an action movie. This makes it all the more exciting, as far as Iâ(TM)m concerned.

Beautifully shot by Dutch cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema this film has layers of drama that unfold smoothly yet often surprisingly. The levels of detail from costume to soundtrack and production design form a very vivid atmosphere that isnâ(TM)t glamorous but is remarkably entrancing. Cigarette smoke hangs almost tangibly in the air of every scene and the general tone of the film is one of muted understatement â" from the drab office buildings of Cambridge Circus to Gary Oldmans wonderfully restrained performance. There are elements of the film that do stand out as superfluous â"the repeating train track motif is maybe a metaphor too far â" but they hardly obstruct us from this films expressive achievements. One Rear Window-esque shot of an apartment building in Istanbul proves the aesthetic ambition of Alfredson and van Hoytema and the assembled acting ability is as impressive as youâ(TM)d expect. There are few long speeches but the cast all use their brief opportunities for character development to great effect â" Colin Firthâ(TM)s eyebrows should really get their own credit. Itâ(TM)s nice to see Kathy Burke back on screen (persuaded out of retirement by Oldman) and Toby Jones also stands out. Thereâ(TM)s very little to fault with this film other than perhaps it tries to encompass too many ideas which canâ(TM)t all hang together coherently, but all in all itâ(TM)s a staggeringly well made movie that invites the audience to really pay attention and really be rewarded.