f13.net forums - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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May 01, 2024, 03:30:14 PM

we're back, baby

5 stars by Pete Bradshaw of the Guardian. Directed by Tomas Alfredson, who made "Let the Right One In".

I have been waiting for this film adaptation for years. The original Tinker Tailor and Smiley's People TV adaptations are not only acknowledged classics by critics, they are actually among the few forerunners of the TV mini series format itself. Those shows took the time to tell complicated stories well when making long stories still had appeal. I sincerely hope the movie does as well.

LeCarre was always for me someone-your-Dad-would-read kind of author, up there with McMurtry etc. But these two novels really stand out amongst his other books as more historical, and IMO, far better written. I know both are sometimes part of the English curriculum in some undergrad programs

There's a triology of stories -- Tinker Tailor, The Honourable Schoolboy, Smiley's People -- all taking place in the 60/70's in the UK during the great revelations of Communist upper class moles. I've long thought LeCarre had editing help on the first and third books, since his following books just aren't as well paced or plotted in some areas. Schoolboy as an example, should have been two novels, since it's very uneven. I hope this movie is successful so they will make the other two.

Edit: US release Dec 9. IMDB

Yes, I am very excited about this.

Yeah, Mrs wanted us to go see the Inbetweeners and I got excited just seeing the poster for this in the cinema.

Really looking forward to this too.

Just recently watched the original TV adaptation of Tinker, Tailor and am currently nearing the end of Smiley's People too. Been blown away by what amazing TV it is - complex, layered plots, far harder to understand than anything on telly now. Story telling that treats its audience as intelligent, a rare thing.

That leads to my main fear about this film - that it'll be greatly simplified and dumbed down for modern audiences. Of course, it's only a 2 hour film compared to the 6 hours of TV mini-series, so some trimming is inevitable, I just hope they haven't gone too far.

I'm going to give the TV versions a go. They've always had a great reputation.

Maybe we'll get a film version of House of Cards one day.

You might think so, I could not possibly comment.

Quote from: Soln on September 15, 2011, 10:42:32 AM

LeCarre was always for me someone-your-Dad-would-read kind of author, up there with McMurtry etc. But these two novels really stand out amongst his other books as more historical, and IMO, far better written. I know both are sometimes part of the English curriculum in some undergrad programs

Have you not read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and A Perfect Spy (amazing)? They are by far his best books.

Also it's le Carré, not LeCarre.

Movie looks interesting. Seems it's not out till 2012 here, though.

Welp went to see it with my parents. I quite enjoyed it though it's not a patch on the miniseries really. My dad hated it, I think because they sacrificed actual time spent building tension in favour of lots of very dramatic 'standing around not talking' bits. I don't think it was overdramatised to the extent he felt but it did feel quite rushed. The climax with the meeting in the house simply didn't have any of the tension I remember from the radio show or the miniseries but honestly I don't think it would have been possible to give it the time necessary to build that tension without chopping out a few more important plot points.

I can at least say the acting is enjoyable and the whole thing makes sense so nothing crucial to the story got pulled.

Spy Who Came in From the Cold (with Richard Burton) is also a good movie and a good novel, yes.

Fuckin A the names attached to this are awesome. I love the UK trailer from a while back.

Le Carre is great. I also enjoyed The Constant Gardener (both book and film), among his more recent work.

Watched this last night.

Everything was good apart from the intrigue, that felt too rushed and light. Also I'm not sure if it had to be as graphic as it was, seemed a bit 'shock value' at times.

I recommend it though.