COLD War politics give British intelligence a shake-up this week in the anticipated Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
As the Cold War wages between Communist Russia and the West, tensions are high for MI6 operatives.
But British Intelligence is thrown into doubt following confirmation of a mole at the top of the power chain.
In a bid to find out who the traitor is, retired espionage veteran George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is called in. But can he find the truth?
Book adaptation
Tomas Alfredson is becoming a dab hand at the tricky art of book adaptations.
Having won international audiences with his Swedish speaking vampire tale Let The Right One In, his approach to John le Carré’s classic espionage thriller is no less respectful.
Keeping his clinically clean visual style intact, he once again reunited with cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema who lenses the 1970s set thriller with a dour, colour saturated aesthetic to create a welcomed period feel (despite the odd historically inaccurate glitch).
But it is the acting heavyweights all bringing their A-game restrained behind the British stiff upper-lip which impress.
On-form Oldman
As chameleonic in his appearance as his performance, Gary Oldman exudes control and stoic cool as Smiley - using words sparingly and glances knowingly.
Although Oscar buzz already surrounds the celebrated UK export, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is still very much an ensemble piece.
From Benedict Cumberbatch’s put-upon assistant to Smiley and Tom Hardy’s conspiracy breaking agent; to the top table of power filled by stalwarts of the screen like John Hurt, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds and an on-form Colin Firth; the result is a veritable feast of talent.
A careful script jumping back and forth adds much needed kineticisim to the pace, but missed opportunities stall the tension.
Tension
Following a genuinely tense opening 10 minutes which sees a quiffed Mark Strong contending with a Russian trap, Alfredson fails to top the scene for edge-of-your-seat drama despite being presented with numerous chances to do so.
Rather than moments of action and suspense, conversations make up the meat of the film as Smiley pieces together the mystery of the mole; leaving the film wrapped up more in its politics than audience-pleasing set-pieces, which result in a constant, if not rather too dialled-down, cloak and dagger whodunnit.
More bland than Bond, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy still brings enough acting clout and sharp cinematic style to make it quintessential ‘cool Britannia’.
7/10 - Immersive mystery.