Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) · 4:51am Jun 22nd, 2015
Tomas Alfredson's intensely cerebral cinematic adaptation of John le Carré's equally cerebral and complex film is a worthwhile exercise in subdued character studies. It might not be the most intense or gripping of espionage films, but it makes up for it by having top notch acting, and wonderfully atmospheric direction.
Alfredson's style is very controlled and refined, in a manner that very much recalls the style of decades past, namely the 1970s, in which this film is set. Its not flashy camera work (no handheld camera work at all), but its remarkably solid and refined, if supremely understated. Coupled with Hoyte van Hoytema's desaturated, appropriately cold cinematography, it helps lend the film an aura of melancholy and coldness, which perfect for a film set during the Cold War. The pacing is slow and deliberate, and due to the nature of this being a stand alone adaptation of a book that's part of a trilogy, it does mean that the ending isn't an epic emotional climax or anything, but rather the coalescence of the narrative to a surprisingly low-key and understated finale.
The acting, however, is what really drives the film, with Oldman giving an incredibly, beautifully understated and delicate performance as the weary and melancholic George Smiley. He forms the center of the film, and while the narrative shuffles constantly between him and the mirad of storied UK actors (Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Hardy and John Hurt), the focus is obviously on Oldman and he does it flawlessly.
Alberto Iglesias' score beautifully matches the incredibly low-key and understated melancholy of the film, being a lonely and sorrowful series of elegant strings and saxophone coupled with a searching piano. The moments of tension in the score ebb out of this flow of music, swelling up briefly before ebbing away again, returning the score to its solemn state. Its emotive and does an amazing job at setting the tone for the film, along with the spacious sound design.
If the film does have a flaw, its that its pace and tone is so understated that it can make one restless. This isn't a pulse pounder like Michael Clayton, but rather a series of miniaturized character studies tied together by the espionage narrative. Also, there are some diversions from the source material that seem rather odd, all things considered, namely in making Cumberbatch's character a covert homosexual, while in the novel, he wasn't. I normally wouldn't particularly mind, as long as it became a plot point or a keystone to how the character acts, but other then the brief scene with him asking his boyfriend to leave, there's no mention of the character's personal life, and so I'm pondering why it was changed if said boyfriends role amounts to maybe less then two minutes of screen time. I'm probably reading too much into it though, and since its so minor and ineffective to the broader narrative, it can be glossed over.
Anyways, I felt it was a good, solid film, with great acting, beautiful cinematography, excellent music and strong direction. Perhaps it could have been paced a tad brisker, and the narrative given a slightly more satisfying conclusion, but all in all its a worthwhile watch.
4.5 out of 5
