Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy reviewed by Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo

[frogtastic1000]

a terrible, empty and boring film...dr.kermode is wrong about this one...not surprised the globes/oscars snubbed it...god awful stuff

[biggles1111]

I keep coming back to hear John Hurt sneer at the others!

[TulseLuper]

I love this film unequivocally. I did find it emotionally engaging and substantial. No, it's not as good as the book, but it was never going to be. My only criticism is that a miniseries would've told the story better. Best film of 2011 by quite a long way.

[zombierepublican]

great period piece, great acting a not bad story.But was a boring movie!

[DarrenBonJovi]

@zombierepublican As a fan of the book and the tv series, I almost found the movie went by at too kinetic a pace!!

[hellsfoxes]

fantastic film... extremely smart work by the director... could elaborate but far too much to write here. im sorry if you found it:

a) boring

b) confusing

c) a bastardized version of the book/tv.

d) not the sum of its parts

... the director made a very artistic, fascinating layered film that used the cinematic medium to do things that book and tv don't do. not better, just different. i haven't read the books and thought it was wonderful. happy to get into a deeper discussion if anyone disagrees

[wigster1978]

It is definitely about spying.



[keflar5]

Wow alot of folk hating this film, thats unexpected I think I may have convinced myself I liked it more than I did as I don't get out to the pictures much. I zoned out quite a bit, its good to see that people seem to understand that emotional imput is the most important thing in most films, it wasn't bad though come on don't blame the film when its critics we don't like lol (dr not included)

[mrada2001]

For the record, Nolan was born and studied in London. He also spent some time in America, but he's British. Anyone still think Stephen Hawking is American?

[rosscopiquotrain]

Really wanted to like this, what a cast for starters, but came out very disappointed. In truth even before the 'climax' arrived I had tuned out.

Mark Kermode gets this wrong I think, a film is not just about an atmosphere or ambience, about great acting, or even about a great plot. These are all important things, but what is their sum? It just does not work.

The plot is too much to be contained in such a short time-frame. The acting is in earnest as the narrative gets lost. Fail.

[twobitsworth]

Having read the book and watched the TV series at least ten times I loathed the film. Maybe if I knew nothing about the story I would have liked it more but I have to admit I was raging afterwards and wish I'd not bothered.

[sadako24]

Can't someone sellotape Simon Mayo's mouth over?

[MosesSupposes1]

There's a lot of Tinker Tailor before you get to the Soldier Spy.

[Dub1Up]

john hurt has such an awesome voice, he should do audio books

[TOSILENCE77]

I went in really wanting to like it, it did have it's moments, but I can't say it was enthralling.

[RockBottomRiser21]

Most disappointing film I've seen all year.

[Phangkyu]

the tv series remains the best adaptation. film was brilliantly acted, brilliantly directed and brilliantly shot, but to fit the whole of the plot into one film meant tearing out a great deal of the resentment and paranoia and slow, knife-edged tension from the source material. This was at its worst in the denouement between Smiley and [spoiler] - Smiley 'won'. Before, [spoiler] kept his principles and Smiley was left with nothing of real value in his life, only empty pride and a hollow victory.

[albrightoncrocker]

Just seen it and it's rubbish !!!

[TheThing88]

Best film I've seen this year. First Let the Right One In and now this? I'm so gay for Thomas Alfredson right now <3

[richandiben]

I'm not stupid, this was the slowest most unrewarding 7 hours of cinema I have ever wasted my money on. 1/10

[kingofpunk1977]

@richandiben You watched too much cgi slok

[aiyic]

Saw it today, but was disappointed. The editing is a little off to me. Some of the scenes are difficult to work out whether the timeline is present or past. Looks great, well acted, but under-cooked.

[sunnygirly2k4]

@aiyic I couldn't have put it better, myself. Not as good as I thought it would be.

[aiyic]

@sunnygirly2k4 Maybe the sequel will be an improvement. (;-)

[puzZzlewithpans]

oh god this film. i wouldn't see it unless you're over 40! oh and colin firth sucks.

[ManicMammoth]

people only thought it was boring because they are fucking stupid

[MTCEFC]

Just back from seeing this, I thought it was ok, not brilliant. Maybe I need to see it again, but the story didn't flow for me and at times I was confused as to what was going on and who was double crossing who, sometimes I thought I knew what was going on and then two minutes later I was lost again.

It did look good and the acting was very good, even if Stephen Graham looked like a young Alan Sugar.

[nath909]

So style over substance

[2011TREADSTONE]

I thought this film had ridiclously slow paced, although the performances were faultless. The cinematography was beautiflly atmospheric and the production design perfectm but the bottom line, it was bloody boring.

[Golem29]

It was a good film but I think despite the film having a fairly easy to understand plot, the way it was presented made everything quite confusing at times. It stands up on the merit of the acting performances for me. The film itself probably isn't going to win best picture at the Oscars (probably the BAFTAS).

[bigherm5]

I'm looking forward to seeing this film. Plus, I just love saying "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

[markoos88]

@themenaceanish It depends what you feel makes a film its nationality. If it's where the money comes from then TDK is American (Warner). Otherwise, the film is largely accountable to British talent. I would class it as a British film. Most of the cast is British. Virtually all of the crew were British.

I think it matters little where it was filmed (Kick-Ass is British film but set in NY and filmed in Canada) however you're wrong about "a few technical scenes" being filmed here. A lot was.

[InfamousMrK]

was thoroughly disapointed with this film. 

[AlxFitz]

oh and there filming batman in England at the moment, so wheres your theory then/

[AlxFitz]

whats this hate the brits time?

[MsBkirk]

Re:George Formby on the radio - Jimmy Young used to broadcast sessions by the Formby impersonator Alan Randall when he had a mid morning programme in the late 60's, but I don't know about in 1973 as I was in primary school then!

[TobyDHS]

i even know his first son (Alfie Oldman, who is British) and he will confirm that his dad is very much British!

[TobyDHS]

ok please do the culture test on the UK film council website with the dark knight and this will prove it too you! if not please then please check any article on the web and it will show that The Dark Knight, Mama Mia and the Quantum of solace were the highest grossing UK films of 2008 to again prove it too you that, 'The Dark Knight' is British! the point is Gary Oldman is British born in England went to drama school in England! His first marriage was to a English woman.

[davidiainmcmahon]

Great film. Glad it gives the audience some credit and doesn't feel the need to spell everything out. The only negative I can think of is if you compare it to the TV series starring Alec Guinness. The series had a lot more time to "sweat it out" so to speak. There was a few daft lines at the end of the film that undermines the story but apart from that it was great. Powerhouse cast and authentic.

[TobyDHS]

also there is a small film called 'nil by mouth' (directed and written by Oldman) which he has stated is slightly autobiographical about his life growing up in London. so yeah he is very very very British, you can spurt all the crap you want he will always be British! also the Dark Knight is technically a British film with a majority English cast, crew and production team and large parts film in England it is classed as a British film. Enough said!

[simonmaxwellstewart]

Surprised the miniseries wasn't mentioned once. I can't see anyone in this movie topping Alec Guinness's quiet, haunting performance in the original and Smiley's People.

[tobiosnmakky]

it was a boring film

[themenaceanish]

Just wanna point out to anyone who makes the Christopher Nolan = british argument. He's actually half American. He might've lived in britain during his childhood but he's lived here for most of his life. He is NOT British lol! When was the last time he made a British movie? His first movie is the only 'British' movie he's ever made. He moved to the States because he couldn't make movies there lmfao! He's practically an American now XD.

[dunsedog]

@themenaceanish What a backward view of nationality. There is such a large British community in LA is ridiculous to propose some sort of detachment from Britain; its culture or identity. He even married a Brit he met at UCL. He's certainly of mixed heritage and culture.

Tbh, you just seem like the sort of person who revels in thorowing out arrogant, "patriotic" American bull all over youtube, so I suppose I'm pretty much just feeding a troll...

[bennett93ish]

@themenaceanish It dosen't really matter.

[guitarreilly]

@themenaceanish born in england, english accent what more do you want hes english you thick cunt

[themenaceanish]

@guitarreilly If that's what you think judges a nationality then LOL! I wouldn't be surprised if Gary Oldman has a US passport and had become an American citizen lol! Face it dudes, you Brits are nothing.

[guitarreilly]

@themenaceanish so according to you if i was born in englnd and lived there for 20 years and then i moved to china for 21 years i would be chinese? probably not. ok and us brits are nothing ok a small island smaller than most states in america was able to create an empire wich covered a third of the world and own most of the sea and yet your brilliantly country is failing to beat a bunch of guys with robes in a desert.

[TheUTFilmCommittee]

He's a troll, guys. Jesus. He couldn't be more obvious.

[TheKlink]

Everybody loves this film right now, can't I help but think that they'll hate it for one reason or another when they come back to it after the buzz has died down.

[trevster2905]

That was the best John Hurt impression I've ever heard.

[Memoquin]

There is a huge difference between British and European cinema. It's like saying an American is from Canada.

[TheAmerican732]

Gary Oldman does live in the US and so do most english Hollywood actors now. If you english dudes can't take the fact that they would much rather live here than in grey england then lol!

[ZAMPAROAD]

@TheAmerican732 yeah my country is better than yours blah blah blah. fuck off you cunt

[sprucemoose18]

@TheAmerican732 Well, of course they do. If they live in America, the chance of getting work is higher and the weather is an added boon. We can take that fact. We can understand that fact.

[SpeedFreakNO]

Did you just say that "Let the Right One In" isn't from present day, or was it just a comparison of atmospheres and used that movie as a good example?

[paintballing489]

Fuck I know nothing aboiut the cold war. I may have to do some homework before watching this one.

[sprucemoose18]

@bamanck Haha, I know right? He tells everyone that he goes to Yale, and thinks everyone believes him, but he keeps on making stupid mistakes in grammar, spelling or general knowledge (boringest being an example) without realising that it keeply undermines his claims. As well as the fact that, as you said, he's too retarded to get into Yale.

[Janitor1993]

It's certainly my favourite film of the year so far

[spaceodds]

Saw it last night, a brilliant spy thriller. Sure you can work out who the mole is earlier on, but the atmosphere and the performances are just top notch.

[jhuan0]

Gary Coleman's British??

"Watchu talkin bout!"

[jhuan0]

Sounds shit. 

[Flurbdurb]

Also PLEASE turn up the volume on these reviews!

[flangepipemcgee]

@Flurbdurb in 11 years of listening to them they've never sat close enough to the microphones.

[jhuan0]

@Flurbdurb I second that. Volume needs turning up.

[Flurbdurb]

Just got back from a showing. Throughly enjoyed it. It's horrible to see alot of hate from the general public for this film because it's far better than alot of the drab that's been released this year.

[LSJShez]

Just watched it. If MTV cutting and explosions are your thing, don't go.

[ExtremeBogom]

Aah, it's turned into the classic UK vs USA talk again. Business as usual then.

[Deavi783]

themenaceanish = MORON

[blarbful]

No, he's British...

[N7Rogue]

@themenaceanish Are you serious

[themenaceanish]

@flangepipemcgee Tinker Tailor Solider Spy = typical pretentious European trash

[drplbiftin]

@themenaceanish do fuck off

[HotDogMarchant]

@themenaceanish Funny how you havee an opinion on a film that doesn't come out in your country until December. Nice try.

[themenaceanish]

@HotDogMarchant Who gives a shit if it comes out in America or not. No one's going to see it lmfao!

[HotDogMarchant]

@themenaceanish But you're calling the film pretentious when there's no way you could have seen it, that was my point. I get that you're trolling, I'm just pointing out how much you suck at it.

[themenaceanish]

@HotDogMarchant You can tell from the trailer it's going to be pretentious trash. I was right when I first saw the trailer for the kings speech and then saw it on a dvd my friend lent me.

[babibex44]

@themenaceanish you obviously have no idea what a good film is...The King's Speech is a brilliant film, as this is.

[themenaceanish]

@babibex44 The kings speech was one of the most boringest movies of last year. Way better movies such as Inception, The Social Network and Black Swan deserved Best Picture at the Oscars. I don't know if you know what the Oscars are, do you even have them over there? lol! The dude playing the king was soooo overrated and deffo not the best actor XD. The kings speech is the worst best picture since Crash in 2004.

[MrGulaorou]

@themenaceanish "The dude playing the king was soooo overrated and deffo not the best actor XD."

You have lost all credibility with that sentence.

[petertyson2]

@themenaceanish I believe you'll find Titanic is the worst best picture winner. As for The Kings Speech, I think it's a very good film and was very deserving of it's accolades. But hey opinions are opinions and we all have them.

[LSJShez]

@petertyson2 Yeah Titanic bought it's oscars. LA Confidential was far superior.

[sprucemoose18]

@themenaceanish "The Kings Speech was one of the most boringest movies of last year". Apparently, hundreds of thousands of people disagree with you. 'Boringest' isn't a word, by the way. Still go to Yale, do you?

[jazzzjasper]

@themenaceanish Let's just settle the King's Speech thingy so discussions can return to the actual film under scrutiny: KS was not brilliant, but it was very good. It was more conservative and a safer bet than Black Swan, but what wasn't? And the best actor Oscar went deservedly to Firth, although he was supposed to have won it one year earlier for A Single Man. Now. TTSS talk please.

[wcjones451]

@themenaceanish You give American's a bad name. Just screw off and go have sex with your cousin you probably inbred moron.

[bordarboy]

@wcjones451 You aren't doing Britain's image much of a favour either.

[wcjones451]

@bordarboy Actually from Southeast Missouri...not sure how that reflects upon Britain.

[realMUSICisMUSE]

@flangepipemcgee i agree with the doctor on a lot of his views on the dark knight but nobody insults it

[realMUSICisMUSE]

@themenaceanish hes british dumbass