Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

R

2012

2h 7m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

229 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In the 1970s England the head of MI6, Control (John Hurt), dispatches an agent (Mark Strong) to meet with a Hungarian general who knows the identity of a Soviet spy in the organization's ranks. However, the mission goes wrong, and the general dies before he can reveal the information. Undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney) calls veteran agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) back from forced retirement to ferret out the mole and stop the flow of vital British secrets to the Russians.

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Critics Consensus

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a dense puzzle of anxiety, paranoia, and espionage that director Tomas Alfredson pieces together with utmost skill.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

01/10/2024

Stepping into the shoes of Alec Guinness, Gary Oldman, in a performance of restrained inscrutability, captures perfectly the character of John le Carré’s seasoned spy George Smiley...

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

12/03/2021

4/5

Sublime.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/31/2018

So beautifully executed and so visually absorbing and so atmospherically hypnotic that I wonder this: would it have been awfully greedy to have hoped to have wholly understood it, too?

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/01/2023

3/4

Le Carré enthusiasts will be left wanting another hour or so of filmic flesh on this skin-and-bones telling.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/26/2022

4/5

While it’s deliberate and sometimes dry, O’Connor and Straughan’s script is tight, structured, and clearly intends to make the audience work right alongside of Smiley.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

07/14/2022

4.5/5

One of the greatest spy thrillers of the century.

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Andrew J

@RT91831388 4d

A brilliant film! A favourite of mine with an outstanding cast

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Apr 14

So many fine actors, all working at a high level, that it was worth watching for the performances alone. We were often a bit confused, but that seems built into the story, and it didn’t detract from the experience. The pacing is slow and steady throughout, and the film has an attractive but very understated look. In the end, "subtle" is the word that best describes it.

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Nicolas M

@effluvium Apr 5

Now they need an hour's supplement to repair the incoherence. Not suitable for those who prize lucidity.

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Alex K

@AlexMK Apr 5

Brilliantly acted, but poorly written, befuddling film that is difficult to follow even if you’re familiar with the book. A very overrated failure.

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Jeff L

@RT73205935 Mar 29

There is a scene in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy which illustrates what kind of film it is. About 20 minutes in, Peter and George pick up a third member of their off-the-books team. Driving back, there is a bee in the car. Where did it come from? Why is it there? The answer relates to a character who is very minor in the source novel, and almost invisible in the film. The bee makes Peter crazy, but makes George curious. The bee and its source are unimportant. The character revelation the bee inspires are a breathtaking detail. This is that kind of movie: labyrinthine plot, complicated dialogue, hundreds of purely visual but critical details which add up to a deliciously cerebral experience. Any ninny can see that it is well-made. But focused concentration reveals how well-made it is.

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Mark M

@RT03910283 Mar 26

I’ve seen Tinker multiple times and each time I discover a new subtlety. This film features an all-star cast and is directed to perfection. The story is deep with many complexities, typical of Lecarre. While Oldman is the star, a young Tom Hardy is a scene stealer. Cumberbatch and Mark Strong are excellent. Collin Firth is flawless. Will watch again and again.

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Tomas Alfredson

Director

Gary Oldman

George Smiley

Kathy Burke

Connie Sachs

Benedict Cumberbatch

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David Dencik

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Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the 1970s England the head of MI6, Control (John Hurt), dispatches an agent (Mark Strong) to meet with a Hungarian general who knows the identity of a Soviet spy in the organization's ranks. However, the mission goes wrong, and the general dies before he can reveal the information. Undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney) calls veteran agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) back from forced retirement to ferret out the mole and stop the flow of vital British secrets to the Russians.

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo
Screenwriter: Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: StudioCanal, Paradis Films, Working Title Films
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 6, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.1M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital

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