SPOTLIGHT FILMS: Tinker Tailor Sailor Spy
By Contributor
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Based on the 1974 novel by John Le Carre is the upcoming Spotlight Films feature to be screened on Tuesday, Mar. 27. This spy thriller is set in 1973, the Cold War era, and features Gary Oldman (Dark Knight, Fifth Element) as George Smiley.
An operation in Budapest goes horribly wrong, forcing the head of British Intelligence, Control (Oscar nominee John Hurt, Elephant Man), to resign and Smiley to retire. It is soon revealed that the failed operation was set up to identify which of four senior figures in the intelligence service was a Russian mole, as control had suspected. The now semi-retired Smiley is approached by a senior government official to investigate a story told to him by a rogue agent that there was indeed a mole.
Smiley considers the failure of the Hungarian operation and the success of the Soviet “Operation Witchcraft” to be confirmation of this and sets out to uncover the rodent. With the help of compatriot Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch, Atonement, War Horse) Smiley is led to Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong, Body of Lies), the agent at the centre of the Hungarian fiasco.
Also starring in this stimulating flick is Colin Firth (Oscar, The King’s Speech), as Bill Haydon.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, directed by Thomas Alredson (several Swedish films and television series), was nominated for three Oscars: best actor for Oldman, best adapted screenplay, Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, best original score.
Anachronisms are evident in any movie if you look for them. For instance, speed bumps weren’t around in ’73, and despite the fact this movie contains a few, for me it is still well capable of retaining that sweet state of suspended disbelief.
Strangest quote by John le Carre: “Having your book turned into a movie is like having your oxen turned into bouillon.”
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spywill show at the Gem Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
Synopsis provided in part by David Brain.
