review by Khef
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 2011
Reviewed May 18, 2012
Khef’s review:
Very slow pace, hard to follow, it put me off. It was difficult to capture my attention in some scenes. Talented cast, performances were fine. I really wanted to like it more, but the pacing is just absolutely painful.
I haven't seen this film yet but the things you mention in your review are things I've been worried about so it's slid down my list some.
My sentiments exactly, Khef. I respect the hell out of it but it bored the crap out of me.
I'll definitely check it out for myself but I won't be shocked if I feel the same way you guys do.
Yeah I can definitely see that so I'll make sure I'm wide awake.
Even if this did have car chases and explosions, I probably would still not be interested in watching. The concept just feels so bland and emotionless. I can tell it's not my kind of movie.
It's a very cold film, very alienating. Oldman is brilliant, though - deserves to be watched just to see that master at work.
I absolutely loved this film! Its hushed, controlled story telling kept me in the loop. I paid VERY close attention to every word and in the end it completely paid of. It is a very heavy film but I urge you to watch it. If you have watched it once and didn't like it go ahead and watch it again with a new look at the film. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy I think is another great showcase of great British actors.
Woha, it's good to know that I'm not the only one who felt like this. Ron, since you're considering to watch it sometime, Del Boy is right, make sure to be wide awake, haha. Well said Tony, Oldman was splendid, if it wasn't for him, I couldn't have finished watching this.
@alishahesling Thanks for sharing your opinion. Maybe I'll rewatch it sometime, but not yet, I wouldn't have the patience.
Oh good, now I won't feel guilty... I felt the same way about it. The cast was brilliant, but it was sooo slooow. There was so much room in the script for better dialogue, and better music always helps. But it felt as monotone as a finance report.
@Cora LOL! Yes, I agree with everything you said.
I liked this movie very much, but I can definitely see why the pacing could be a problem. For me it really worked as an aspect of the - in my opinion, anyway - very central point of this movie and the novel it is based on: that being a spy is mostly very, very dull work. In fact it is most exciting when you are trying very hard to make it look not exciting at all (as when Peter Gwillem breaks in to steal files from the Circus). I'm not sure the movie couldn't have worked just as well or better with more tension in the direction of the scenes where characters are tense on the inside, but it worked very well for me this way...
I can see your point Mikkel. Did you read the novel? Just curious. Maybe if I had read the novel, would have been different. For me the movie was not bad, I thought it was good, but I would have liked it more if it wasn't for what I mentioned above. But I can definitely see that this film is not for everyone. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
I actually read the novel after watching the movie, but I was very impressed in hindsight by how the feel of the prose was captured on the screen. Whether that makes it a good film is obviously debatable, but it feels very much like a good adaptation of the...spirit (for lack of a better word) of the source material. I think that is the source of the slow pace, but even the guy who recommended the movie to me and who loves both movie and book found the beginning 20 minutes almost too dull to justify. I had no real problems, though.
Thanks for the review and the discussion in the comments. It's nice to discuss why things work or don't work, instead of just stating opinions at each other.
PS: Can you be "impressed in hindsight"? I don't know...
With all due respect, I don't really think you know what "terrible pacing" is. The movie is slow on purpose, because espionage is slow. Terrible pacing is, say, when you spend half of what is supposed to be a frantic, action-filled sci-fi movie in a circlejerk on a farm. You know what movie I'm talking about.