Movie version of John Le Carre's classic novel of Cold War espionage. Superb, if difficult. The plot is complex, and no concessions are made for slow viewers. It wasn't until a second viewing that I fully understood it. In fact, many brilliant details can only be understood in retrospect. But it rewards attention. Entices with psychological, moral, and political nuances. The underlying theme is loyalty, not only political but personal. Gary Oldman, a great actor, stars. He is assisted by a list of outstanding British character actors: John Hurt, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth. Very much worth seeing.

John Le Carre has been one of my favorite authors since Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy came out in hardback. It's on my list of things to see. I'll revisit this thread when I get to the theater.

If someone has read the book and knows what's going on, he will probably enjoy the movie. If he hasn't, as bob said, he might have to sit through it a couple of times to get it. I don't walk out of too many movies, but I walked out of this one. I think I would enjoy the book more. I want a movie to draw me in and get me involved in either the action, the characters, or the story, rather than to have to sit there wondering "What the fuck is going on?"

After an hour, I discovered I didn't care enough about the movie or the people in it to sit through another hour to find out what it was all about.

I was complimenting the movie. It's as deep and interesting as the book, which is true of few movies. I read the book when it was new, and have only fuzzy memories, but the movie makes the book vivid.

Here are examples of what I meant by a need to see the movie twice. In one scene, we see George Smiley, the hero, staring silently at a small drab modernist painting hanging in his house. Why? It's only later we learn the painting was a gift from the man who's fucking George's wife, and staring at it was an exercise in pain for George. Only on a second viewing do we feel the full power of this scene. Another small example - we see a school boy staring out at a road, and reflected in the glass through which he looks is a car pulling a small red trailer. Only later do we learn that the trailer is the home of a major character, come to teach at the school. Once we know what we're looking at, the reflection foreshadows what's to come. The movie is full of rewarding subtleties like this.

For those who still remember when films were considered art, this is a satisfying throw-back. It might seem slow to viewers weaned on "action" films, but it knows how to pace its big events. Instead of a thrill a minute, which rapidly exhausts an audience, it's quiet until something happens, and then it strikes with great force. Oldman's periodic outbursts, after seemingly imperturbable calm, carry great conviction.

I've already seen Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy three times, and will see it again.

I watched the movie tonight.

Very, very literate telling of a magnificent story.

John LeCarre wrote a brilliant novel of spies, counterspies and betrayal that is not filled with gunfights and explosions and car chases but is filled with mystery. It is a grand mystery worthy of two great powers battling for world domination.

Watch the details of the movie. Each is important.

I haven't seen this one yet. Has anyone seen this that has also seen the BBC one from the 80's with Alec Guiness. That one was superb. Is this one as good?

Transward

In a way, it's like THE USUAL SUSPECTS, where all sorts of what seem to be unrelated happenings suddenly coalesce into one grand picture.

It is just as good as the BBC production if not better in the casting and pacing.

The Blu Ray disc has a commentary track featuring actor Gary Oldman and director Tomas Alfredson that is brilliant. Two men in very much the style of the movie talking the secrets of the movie and the tiny clues hidden in every scene.

Well worth the listen if you get the commentary track.

I viewed Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy last night. I enjoyed it very much. The things that were mentioned above I noticed. I will watch it again in a few days to see what more I missed.

Ken