Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

[Nick Armstrong]

apologies for the split thread but the reviews for Tinker TSS are wonderful!

Telegraph

Calum, Anna and others commented on this on another thread, but I think it merits its own.

I saw Tinker Tailor... last night. It is absolutely absorbing, mesmerising and a treat for the eyes - unusual hypnotic direction, haunting details, a grainy, washed out look that makes the film look as if it was made in the 70s let alone set then. What the TV series had going for it in terms of the time to work out the story in a leisurely way, the film makes up for in cinematic intensity. Couple of quibbles: Ricky Tarr (Tom Hardy) is a bit too glam and engaging; and Gary Oldman's voice... well he claims to have sought to escape the Alec Guinness shadow, but he seems vocally to be doing a Guinness impression most of the time (yes, most of the time - his accent is a bit variable), with those big owlish glasses too.

But it's very good nonetheless. A film to lose yourself in for 2 hours in a darkened cinema one rainy autumn afternoon....



EDIT: I don't think I've ever seen a film that scores 100% on this website which collates significant press criticism and evaluates it rather crudely but accurately in my experience: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tink...r_soldier_spy/

[salymap]

I can't get to the cinema now but will look out for a DVD in due course. I laboriously put the TV production onto video, week by week and this is still clear to me. Almost every part seemed to have ideal casting and Hywell Bennett's Ricky Tar had a sly sinister edge to him that would be hard to match IMO. And I absolutely love Alec Guinness in almost everything he did but this is what I remember him by.

[Richard Tarleton]

Thanks Caliban, can't wait. I've just re-read the book - Le Carré's prose is just superb.

I find it impossible, sitting on the 205 bus back to Paddington at the end of my trips to London, not to think as the bus drives along Sussex Gardens of Smiley sitting in his seedy hotel room, working through the files.

[mercia]

I saw Tinker Tailor... last night.

was that the BFI premiere then? I hadn't appreciated you moved in such circles.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

thanks Caliban .... lucky you ... i have conspired with swmbo to get tickets immediately it is shown here ...

[Anna]

was that the BFI premiere then? I hadn't appreciated you moved in such circles.

Not exalted circles - haven't you ever seen him in his Usherette's uniform?

[mercia]

haven't you ever seen him in his Usherette's uniform?

er, no

I haven't read any JleC but enjoyed the recent radio adaptations of the Smiley books with Simon Russell Beale as George, though I couldn't reconcile his depiction with Guinness's on TV, they seemed two quite different personalities. I found the plot in the TV series almost impenetrable, everything was so understated, but a nice seedy atmosphere.

[johncorrigan]

er, no

I haven't read any JleC

I read 'Spy who came in from the cold' on holiday this summer after a pal recommended it - first time I'd read LeCarre after years of listening on radio - thought it was wonderful - not sure whether to go see the film or read the TTSS books now.

[Nick Armstrong]

It does make me want to get the book out again and go back to the original...

[Nick Armstrong]

haven't you ever seen him in his Usherette's uniform?

Rumbled. Yes, I'm yours for a choc-ice and a Kia-Ora (as you've probably heard)

Thanks Caliban, can't wait. I've just re-read the book - Le Carré's prose is just superb.

I find it impossible, sitting on the 205 bus back to Paddington at the end of my trips to London, not to think as the bus drives along Sussex Gardens of Smiley sitting in his seedy hotel room, working through the files.

I cycled down part of Sussex Gardens on my way home after the film last night! I'd forgotten that's the setting in the book (in the film it's a Dickensian-looking place in the rather improbable shadow of St Paul's (digitally superimposed, I thought)... )

[gurnemanz]

I shall certainly go and see it, but without the tension of not being sure who the mole was till right near the end, it will be a rather different experience from watching the TV version.

[Mandryka]

I feel that the 'suspense' of the TV version is now compromised by Ian Richardson's casting as Bill Haydon. Post-Urquart, he's now expected to be the villain.

This film has had such good reviews, that I fear I can only be disappointed. Nevertheless, I shall go.

[antongould]

Me too - I think the BBC production was one of the highlights of the last half century - I regularly revisit it on DVD. I thought all the suspects were perfectly cast and thought Richardson was superb! Sir Alec well even the way he cleaned his specs.............................

[Nick Armstrong]

Me too - I think the BBC production was one of the highlights of the last half century - I regularly revisit it on DVD. I thought all the suspects were perfectly cast and thought Richardson was superb! Sir Alec well even the way he cleaned his specs.............................

I think I shall be particularly interested to read your reaction then, Anton, as you are so imbued with the TV series! Also in the views of others, of course!

[mercia]

Francine Stock talks to Gary Oldman about TTSS tomorrow Radio 4 4:30pm