Review of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) by Marischa B — 14 Jul 2012

The hunt for a Soviet mole embedded in the upper echelons of the British Intelligence is what drives the plot of this film. It's a good old fashioned espionage thriller that made me wait with bated breath for the big reveal. The dialogue is subtle and reserved; befitting the tone of the film and not paying attention to it may result in puzzlement. The use of clichés such as "Stellar" and "Tour de force" is quite appropriate when describing the cast and their respective performances. The cream of the British acting crop indeed!

The earthy and muted shades of brown in the cinematography give the film an authentic Cold War era atmosphere but the lack of a moody score is evident. Even though the director Tomas Alfredson tries his utmost to tinker with the original material and tailors it into a feature film version, the much anticipated climax disappoints at the end.