Rent Our Kind of Traitor (2016)

Lame-ish Spy Thriller - Our Kind of Traitor review by MD

Yet another film based on a John Le Carre novel, this boasts an impressive cast, yet strangely that combination just does not work on this occasion. Early on, you get the feeling that the set-up is highly contrived, and certainly the way in which a very ordinary university professor is sucked in to the murky world of espionage, mafia money laundering and government level skullduggery is pretty hard to believe.

The middle part was a muddled mix of clues, laboured exposition and gory action scenes that left me not just a little confused but also wanting more coherence - there was no real continuity, and the actors seemed at times to be as lost as I was.

Unfortunately, you could see the ending coming a mile off, but as always these days there was in fact a double ending, you know, the happy bit to offset the fact that everything went belly up first time round. I actually hated this ending: not only was it a cop out, but it was so briefly done that you were left hanging in the air. It kind of summed up the whole movie - badly handled, and inept.

All in all, I'm afraid, a bit of a waste of a potentially good story and a great cast.

a big let down - Our Kind of Traitor review by CP Customer

I agree with a previous review that this film should be better than it is - It emanates from a brilliant writer (John le Carre) and and the cast is superb. But you do not get a feeling of connection to the main characters and don't come to care about them or what happens to them. The lead male character is rather wet and you cant help wondering why how he managed to get such a brilliant wife (and keep her!). The plot is quite ridiculous and unbelievable. I was very disappointed because it could have been so much better!

Dull spy tale - Our Kind of Traitor review by Alphaville

A slow-burning, lo-key, sub-par Le Carré in which a poetry lecturer gets involved with a Russian mafia boss wanting to defect. It’s all pretty ho-hum with no twists and turns, little excitement, boring politicking and nothing we haven’t seen done better many times before. An hour passes before our hero is in any peril at all. Pedestrian direction from TV stalwart Susanna White and a bland score add a sheen of sameness to every scene, but even Bernard Herman would struggle to add any tension to this one.

Not Taught Enough - Our Kind of Traitor review by KW

Interesting Movie script let down by trying to add an extra 20 minutes to the run time. Decent acting from the cast and some of the location shots were great but they were not enough to make the film a good one.

Harry Palmer goes modernish - Our Kind of Traitor review by NC

Spot the Harry Palmer/Michael Caine character. Could never see the Bond girl as any good at at being on screen. Is really a TV film, but is not bad to be fair. Could be 2.5 stars to be fair...........

Flat spy thriller - Our Kind of Traitor review by AER

After a promising start, nothing convinces in this flat thriller. Characters exist to serve a plot that just drives a well-furrowed path. If you like JOhn Le Carre, this is the weakest film adaptation for some time. The actors are asleep, the locations wasted (except for the Alps) and the characters seem to be very black and white in their ways - good and evil. Stellan Skarsgard's character would have benefitted from a bit more development, and the central couple are barely present. Only Damian Lewis distinguishes himself as a spy with a grudge and a personal reason to see his unsanctioned mission go to plan. Below average - stick with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or the TV adaptation of The Night Manager.

Watchable & Average Spy Drama - Our Kind of Traitor review by GI

As adaptations of John Le Carré novels go this is slightly disappointing. It's more a character piece that doesn't really get into the characters deep enough to draw you in and then it attempts some thriller style action which is a bit half hearted too. Overall it's an entertaining film that is very watchable and has a decent, if a little preposterous, story. Perry (Ewan McGregor), a university lecturer and Gail (Naomie Harris), a successful barrister, are on holiday in Morocco attempting to save their failing marriage when they're befriended by Dima (Stellan Skarsgård), a big Russian gangster, who slips Perry a computer flash drive urging him to hand it to MI6 on his return home. Dima wants protection in return for information on corrupt British politicians and MI6 man Hector (Damian Lewis) is all ears but faces internal problems getting Dima's demands agreed and adding to the problems Dima will only trust Perry and Gail, who are forced into a very dangerous situation. A basic story of the Mr Normal getting caught up in espionage and political shenanigans. The plot has holes galore and some of it makes little sense but it's a globetrotting tale told with panache and the cast are good.