The Genius of John le Carré

The cast and filmmaker of TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY decode the powerful influence of novelist John le Carré and his most enduring character, the spy master George Smiley.
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
Release: December 9th, 2011 (Limited)

Story: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is the long-awaited feature film version of John le Carré's classic bestselling novel. The thriller is directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In). The screenplay adaptation is by the writing team of Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan.
The time is 1973. The Cold War of the mid-20th Century continues to damage international relations. Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), a.k.a. MI6 and code-named the Circus, is striving to keep pace with other countries' espionage efforts and to keep the U.K. secure. The head of the Circus, known as Control (John Hurt), personally sends dedicated operative Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) into Hungary. But Jim's mission goes bloodily awry, and Control is forced out of the Circus -- as is his top lieutenant, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a career spy with razor-sharp senses.
Estranged from his absent wife Ann, Smiley is soon called in to see undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney); he is to be rehired in secret at the government's behest, as there is a gnawing fear that the Circus has long been compromised by a double agent, or mole, working for the Soviets and jeopardizing England. Supported by younger agent Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), Smiley parses Circus activities past and present. In trying to track and identify the mole, Smiley is haunted by his decades-earlier interaction with the shadowy Russian spy master Karla.
The mole's trail remains cold until maverick field agent Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy) unexpectedly contacts Lacon. While undercover in Turkey, Ricki has fallen for a betrayed married woman, Irina (Svetlana Khodchenkova), who claims to possess crucial intelligence. Separately, Smiley learns that Control narrowed down the list of mole suspects to five men. They are the ambitious Percy Alleline (Toby Jones), whom he had code-named Tinker; suavely confident Bill Haydon (Colin Firth), dubbed Tailor; stalwart Roy Bland (Ciarán Hinds), called Soldier; officious Toby Esterhase (David Dencik), dubbed Poor Man; and -- Smiley himself.
Even before the startling truth is revealed, the emotional and physical tolls on the players enmeshed in the deadly international spy game will escalate...
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Screenplay: Peter Straughan & Bridget O'Connor; Based upon the novel by John le Carré

Cast: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, David Dencik, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Stephen Graham, Kathy Burke, Ciarán Hinds

MPAA Rating: TBA
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[@Lurker1979]

I have a retired friend who worked for American Intelligence. He has told me this movie is very accurate and one of the best spy movies he has ever seen.

[@trailtreker7002]

Pfft .....Obviously Your Friend hasn't read the First Draft ( aka -The Book ). The Movie is a Vague Sketch of the Original Story , details left out , and the story line a changed mess. In the end its confusing and discombobulated at the least . Le Carré cashed in on this for the money , straight and simple only to sign away rights to the original story that gave him fame.

[@medic7698]

May I suggest you and he watch the BBC adaptation. I think it is wonderful and has a wonderful cast.

[@medic7698]

@@trailtreker7002 I agree the film isn't very good, especially as there are too many departures from the books plot. My problem also is that I saw the BBC adaptation which is far better.

[@bluecheese4877]

The original TV series with Alec Guinness is certainly better -partly because it’s longer and more is included

[@slammajamma5435]

The miniseries with Alec Guinness is even better. Smiley’s People the miniseries is also exceptional

[@Mdebacle]

R.I.P. John le Carré

[@medic7698]

A great loss.

[@alanrogs3990]

He dead

[@kestrel09]

I have the greatest respect for Gary Oldman as an actor. His versatility and talent is tremendous. For me though, Sir Alec Guinness is, and remains George Smiley.

[@Nately22]

As good as the film is, well crafted, beautifully shot and true to the original characters and story, it is heavily condensed in film format. The complexity of the plot and how the story unravels, and each character's inter-dependence and slow mistrust is squeezed to fit the running time. The BBC adaptation, although a different format, for me, is the ultimate version of the story on screen.

[@bullwinklejmoos]

Gary Oldman is great as George Smiley, but the late, great Sir Alec Guinness owns the role of Smiley in the BBC version.

[@Nately22]

@@bullwinklejmoos 100% agree.

[@GeorgeSmileyOBE]

I have to hand Gary Oldman the award for bravery in taking on a character that Alec Guinness played. The response to a producer asking you to do that part is “are you insane?’

[@samirsadixov]

The best spy movie ever made imho...

[@medic7698]

I would recommend the BBC series if you can get hold of it. I think it's on Amazon or Netflix. The pace is a little slower but I think the acting is better.

[@jasonandlynnechambers3420]

Austin Powers! Yeah baby, Yeah!!

[@guaguancos.montunodcubop8923]

Two absolute titans together, Le Carre and Oldman

[@maxine_666]

The genius of Gary Oldman

[@perspectives2024]

Yeah, John le Carré 💗 , the Lebanon Wars, the Dire Straits... They all sit down somewhere there inside my mind. Part of my beautiful madness!

[@annchristine47]

When you have read the books and viewed the absolute genius of the original television presentation,it is impossible to improve on it………..no matter how many “ big” names are on the new production.

[@shef1367]

The great movie

[@637122a]

I am confused! Are there two versions? One with Sir Alec Guiness and one with Gary Oldman.

[@darranwikeepa7079]

Sir Alec played Smiley in the mini series of the same name in the late 70's and again in the mini series Smiley's People in the early 80's.

[@LEAVEtheLIGHTon]

I liked both the series and the movie.The series is almost unwatchable if you dont get in too it at the start.I rewatched the series after I saw the movie and it was at that stage I enjoyed the series.Both lead actors were brilliant.

[@UKgamer87]

Whens the sequel coming out?

[@ryancoulter4797]

I SERIOUSLY hope they do Smiley’s People

[@medic7698]

The next in the trilogy is The Honorable Schoolboy. Then it would be Smileys People which you can see as a BBC series. The Honorable Schoolboy is available as a BBC play and is on KZbin.

[@williamparker1085]

he had no peers in the genre to which he spoke

[@tansrishabilaliali6499]

MALAYSIA INTEL WITCHCRAFT

[@tansrishabilaliali6499]

DNI

[@rollingrockink1]

Better than the show...

[@davegibbs6423]

Respectfully differ.

[@minsapint8007]

The film was excellent but for me the TV show was my favourite ever.

[@steveconn]

I watched this with my ex and we agreed the most exciting scene was when he ate a breath-mint.

[@a.b.gibson6521]

I think that was an antacid.