Today’s quick review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. When suspicions arise of a Soviet mole at the highest levels of MI-6, retired agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) returns to the spy life to conduct an investigation in secret. With the help of his loyal subordinate Peter (Benedict Cumberbatch) and a missing British agent (Tom Hardy), Smiley pieces together the clues to determine which of his former colleagues is the traitor.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War-era spy thriller based on the novel by John le Carre. The movie features a strong cast, intelligent writing, and a complicated mystery that unfolds gradually throughout the film. However, its multi-threaded plot and tendency to keep secrets make it a hard story to follow. As such, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an uncommonly rewarding film for the right viewer and an impenetrable enigma for the wrong one.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy embodies the cerebral side of the spy genre. Apart from the main question of the identity of the mole, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy follows several subplots that have little immediate connection to the main story. Crucial facts are mentioned in passing, and the story’s many flashbacks can be disorienting at times. The pieces do all fit together, but it takes a dedicated viewer to decipher exactly how.
Watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy if you are a fan of smart, dramatic thrillers. The movie requires substantial investment to make sense of, but the payoff is an unusually intricate spy story backed by talented actors. Skip it if you are looking for action, a movie that holds your hand, or a movie with more emotional payoff.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for good writing and dramatic performances; your score will vary depending on how cryptic you like your storytelling.