A Movie A Day Keeps The Zombies Away

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

In the bleak days of the Cold War, espionage veteran George Smiley is forced from semi-retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s echelons.

Based on the best-selling novel by John le Carré. An imaginative chronicle of his time in the British intelligence service.

Sit down and LISTEN.

Brought to us by the storytelling genius behind Let the Right One In (2008)- Tomas Alfredson, his 1st English film.

Gary Oldman GOLD!!! A king needs knights: Colin Firth, “tough as nails” Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, “legendary” John Hurt, “Sherlock” Benedict Cumberbatch and many more the queen has to offer! What a tremendous cast.

Digging in your own backyard is never easy when the dogs are out.

The hunters and the hunted, which is what? FUCK ALL OTHER ESPIONAGE FILMS! This is the real deal, so to speak. Mumbles, whispers and secrets fuel this dramatic mystery behind closed doors. 

How far it this from the truth? No one knows but the truth. Twists and turns with words and actions, betrayal is no stranger to this genre of film. 

TTSS investigates primary players in a game so few have played. Jumps in scenes are colored in by excellent cinematography. The script and dialogue felt real and sluggish. “Aaaw no, old men talking” - It ain’t all explosions, babes and gadgets. Some viewers may/might give up at the halfway point - BELIEVE ME, the payoff is in the end.

Distrust, loyalty and mischief shadow the entire film and all it’s characters. I loved the atmosphere of constant doubt. 

The ending was quite satisfying and my eyes were once again “wide open”. 

Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words.