Comments | rpowell: "TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY" (2011) Review

rpowell

"TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY" (2011) Review

Mar 10, 2012 19:34

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politics, benedict cumberbatch, ciarán hinds, john hurt, literary, tom hardy, cold war, toby jones, stephen graham, movies, colin firth, mark strong, gary oldman, laura carmichael, mid 20th century, roger lloyd-pack

Comments 4

fatpie42 February 11 2012, 12:51:43 UTC

Having had a chance to watch it a second time, I'm not sure that "slow as molasses" is fair. There's something happening in every frame. The problem the first time around is that it's tough to link everything together.

I don't think Benedict Cumberbatch's character being gay was a big plot revelation. It was a surprise certainly, but the main point there was that he was having to give up on what was clearly a close and important relationship out of love. Did we need anything more added to that? It gave us further insight into a character, conveyed to us how dangerous things were getting in the story, and showed us the darker side of life within British Intelligence.

As an aside, I was surprised to discover that one of my favourite movies "The Constant Gardener" was actually a Le Carré adaptation. :)

rpowell February 12 2012, 04:26:13 UTC

I think it would have been more interesting if the writers had incorporated this into the movie's main narrative. It didn't have to be a major plot line, but one important enough to somewhat impede Smiley and Guilliam's investigation.

fatpie42 February 12 2012, 14:29:12 UTC

*SPOILER WARNING FOR ANYONE CHECKING OUT THIS DISCUSSION*

It would only impede Smiley's investigation if Guillam was less good at his job. And I'm not sure how they would show that weakness without his screwing up the operation in a big way and, heck, being gay isn't a weakness and having feelings isn't a weakness.

Guillam keeps a completely straight serious face until his lover leaves the room. He knows what he has to do and he's determined, but it doesn't stop him from caring.

Ricki Tarr, on the other hand, is clearly not in the same league. His mark works it out by herself, he has clearly become very attached and, in the end, the result is that she dies. So if there's any wider use of that element, I think it is the contrast between Guillam and Tarr.

ashmh March 23 2012, 03:15:52 UTC

It would only impede Smiley's investigation if Guillam was less good at his job. And I'm not sure how they would show that weakness without his screwing up the operation in a big way and, heck, being gay isn't a weakness and having feelings isn't a weakness.

Guillam being exposed as a homosexual would have not only threatened Smiley's investigation, it would have threatened Guillam's career . . . especially in the early 1970s.