Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Thomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a successfully constructed film which boasts a fantastic combination of intrigue and tension. The film should satisfy audiences beyond just the typical thriller with a nice twist at the end.

Set in 1970's London: After a covert operation goes wrong, British intelligence spy-master Control (John Hurt) and his right-hand man George Smiley (Gary Oldman) are sacked. After information is leaked concerning a possible mole in the service, Smiley is asked to return and spy on the spies.

Based on possibly the best espionage novel ever, Tinker Tailor (for short) is a gripping film. The narrative is carefully woven by screenwriters Bridget O'Connor (who the film is dedicated to) and Peter Straughan. There is a steady trickle of exposition, some of which occurs in flashback sequences. This works to keep the viewers guessing whilst retaining the big question, who is the mole? The premise of the film is fairly simple, but it is made  more intriguing by the different strands that operate and increasing the sense of mystery.

Going back to the Cold War spy game to unmask the traitor in the circus that is MI6, Smiley learns that Control already found out there was a mole and gave code names for the main suspects. Tinker is Percy (Toby Jones). Tailor is Bill Haydon (Colin Firth). Soldier is Roy Bland (Ciaran Hinds). Poor man is Toby Estherhase (David Denck). Finally with have Beggarman which is George Smiley. Smiley is considered one of the suspects because Control knows he has two weaknesses. His wife and with the soviet counterpart Carla. We never get to see Smiley's wife or Carla in full view and I think it's a great decision. They both seem to turn up in Smiley's mind or when he talks about them with other people. One scene in particular, Smiley talks about his one encounter with Carla. It never goes into a flashback, instead Smiley recites the encounter word or word.

Other key players in the spy game include Mark Strong as the dutiful Jim Peradiux who is betrayed and used as bait. Tom Hardy plays the muscle as Ricky Tarr, a foot soldier who is sent out on field work and it's his return after going AWOL that sets off the whole mystery of the mole. We also have the return of Kathy Burke who's been away from TV for far too long. Never the less, it's great to see her back as the boozy Connie, a researcher who is forced out of the service to keep her mouth shut. Finally we have Benedict Cumberpatch who is brilliant as Peter Gulliam, Smiley's trusted leg-man. Cumberbatch looks like in had the most fun in the film and features in one the film's best scenes. But make no mistake, this is Gary Oldman's film. He inhabits Smiley perfectly and it's hard to believe this actor played Sirius Black and Stansfield in Leon (1994). Rarely has a film used a persons body language to dramatic effect, whether it be to adjust his spectacles or the movement of his shoulders you can always sense what's going through Smiley's mind. An Oscar nomination is surely on the cards.

Alredson has done a great job in making a very British film but also to capture the workings of Smiley's mind perfectly. After making Let the Right One In, Thomas has made two of the best films in recent years. After talking with Oldman he told me he would love to play the role of Smiley again and have another opportunity to work with the writers and director. Here's hoping Tinker Tailor is a success as I'm already excited about the sequel.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is one of the best films this year. It's utterly absorbing, with a great cast and will surely be a major contender for the top awards.