Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
I’m drinking coffee in bed. The rain is pouring down outside, as Storm Eunice° gives out its death rattle. And I’m watching Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
I have an interesting relationship with it. When I saw it in the cinema for the first time I’d heard it was fantastic, so went in with very high hopes, and found it pretty awful. Just dull and mostly confusing.
But then a year or so later when I rewatched it at home, I found it rather fantastic. Totally engaging and well put together. A thoughtful masterpiece.
But then the next time I rewatched it I found it a bit slow and ponderous again, so gave up watching it about half way through after getting distracted by something else.
And well right now I’m rewatching it again. And it’s flip-flopped back to being that masterpiece again. God it’s good.
And whatever you think of the it you have to appreciate it as a film, because they don’t often make them like this anymore.
It demands a decent amount from the audience – and doesn’t offer up details on a platter. And it’s just so very assured of itself. With every part of it confidently put together. It’s very ‘adult’.
Also, side note, I feel like you can get a good gauge of how well-made a film is by the quality of its photoshopping of photos of characters when they were meant to be younger (or ideally no photoshop at all and an actual recreation instead). And Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy does it well:
8.5/10
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