Rent Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)
3.4 of 5 from 748 ratings
2h 2min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- When a disgraced spy surfaces with information concerning a double agent at the top of the British secret service, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), an ex-MI6 agent, is drawn back into murky field of espionage. Tasked with investigating which of his trusted former colleagues has chosen to betray him and their country, Smiley narrows his search to four suspects - all experienced, skilled and successful agents. However, past histories, rivalries and friendships make it far from easy to pinpoint the man who is eating away at the heart of the British establishment.
- Actors:
- Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, John Hurt, Zoltán Mucsi, Péter Kálloy Molnár, Ilona Kassai, Imre Csuja, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Ciarán Hinds, Kathy Burke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Graham, Arthur Nightingale, Simon McBurney, Amanda Fairbank-Hynes, Peter O'Connor, Roger Lloyd-Pack
- Directors:
- Tomas Alfredson
- Producers:
- Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo
- Voiced By:
- Michael Sarne, Peter Bartfay
- Writers:
- John le Carré, Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
- Others:
- Jacqueline Durran, Doug Cooper, Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana Macdonald, Hoyte Van Hoytema, Alberto Iglesias, Dino Jonsäter, Howard Bargroff, John Casali, Stephen Griffiths, Andy Shelley
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- 12 Films of Christmas Present, 2012, Acting Up: British Actors at the Oscars, Award Winners, CinemaParadiso.co.uk Through Time, Holidays Film Collection, Top 10 Autumn Films, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 30/01/2012
- Run Time:
- 127 minutes
- Languages:
- English Audio Description, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.40:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Commentary with Gary Oldman and director Tomas Alfredson
- John le Carre interview
- Deleted scenes
- Smiley featurette
- Inside the circus featurette
- John le Carre featurette
- Interviews with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, director Tomas Alfredson and screenwriter Peter Straughan
- UK premiere featurette
- Sky movies featurette
- Photo gallery
- Trailers
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 20/12/2021
- Run Time:
- 127 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- DVD Regions:
- Region 0 (All)
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Nw Conversation Between Film Critic Mark Kermode and Director Tomas Alfredson
- New Interview with Film Critic Jason Solomons
- New Interview with Film Critic Matthew Sweet
- New Interview with Le Carre Biographer Adam Sisman
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Reviews (5) of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
A disappointment - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by CP Customer
Perhaps if I didn't know the novel, or the late 70's TV production of Tinker Tailor, I might have thought this ok. Even so, its sepulchral gloom made me think more of a cut price Blade Runner than Le Carre's miserable mandarin. Oldman did a fine job, all the actors did a fine job with a script that became more attenuated as the film progressed. Why needlessly conflate characters' names, and why make Ann Smiley, an integral part of George's malaise, an off screen signifier? I'd been really looking forward to seeing what a contemporary director and cast made of what is now almost an English classic, but found myself deeply disappointed
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Alec Guinness is George Smiley - Gary Oldman is an imposter :) - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by RP
Regrettably, this is a film which suffers badly in comparison to the 1979 BBC TV production. Having enjoyed the book and the TV series I was looking forward to the film, particularly after its glowing reviews from the critics. Well, I was disappointed. Knowing the material I wasn't expecting an action/adventure tale, but what is a complex tale has been so condensed as to make the story not only slow moving but incomprehensible unless you have read the book. Despite excellent acting, the missing back story makes the plot hard to follow.
Before writing this review I re-watched the BBC TV series with Alec Guinness in the lead role just to make sure that I wasn't misremembering how good it was. Yes, that one is slow moving too, but it is so atmospheric that it draws the viewer in to see how the story unfolds – and it makes Gary Oldman look out of place as George Smiley, a role which (despite others playing the character over the years) Alec Guinness made his own.
The TV series also has the luxury of being over 5 hours long, giving plenty of time to set out the complex story, the complex characters and the complex background. The film is also long at over 2 hours – and it feels it, whereas the TV series becomes all-enveloping and the viewer becomes immersed in the story.
Sorry, but I can only give this one 3/5 stars – and if it hadn't been for Gary Oldman's performance it would have been 2/5.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Comprehensible? - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by KG
The original book was fine, but this version was virtually incomprehensible. It included a number of interesting scenes, but understanding the plot was way beyond my ability, and apparently beyond the brainpower of a good many people. Director's ego trip ?
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Critic review
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso
Based on the best selling novel by John Le Carre Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy follows the story of British spy George Smiley as he attempts to find a mole within the intelligence service.
Older audiences may well have seen the excellent BBC adaptation of the novel that starred Alec Guinness, which has since gained status as one of the BBC’s best adaptations. Considering the amount of time allowed for the older project compared to this year’s release audiences should be very impressed with the new offering.
Starring a wealth of British big shots including Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Toby Jones, and an excellent performance by the endlessly versatile Gary Oldman in the lead, Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy is a tense and beautifully executed drama.
Some have complained that they could not get along with Cumberbatch in the role of Smiley’s leg man Peter Gulliam, otherwise however the film must be praised for its vision of the piece. I was very struck by the sight of London and Cambridgeshire which demonstrate the tactful and precise choice of location to stay in keeping with the original setting. Whilst the industrial style set pieces of the Circus give the movie a twist of modern style.
The film manages to cut only what is absolutely necessary without distracting from the story and effortlessly hold suspense throughout, even fans of the book and the original BBC drama should not be disappointed.