Part cold war revisionism (complete with Michael Caine pretty much playing a middle-aged Harry Palmer), part an exercise in eurocentrism nostalgia. Director John Mackenzie has a nice touch that allows it to never bogs down too much on the excessive overplotting, the film becomes a very serious comedy about two extreme competent man of action trying to finish there missions unaware of the multiple machinations of a large power structure set on try too perpetuate itself despite Perestroika, only one that nevver forgets that tense ticking clock at the center of it. There's lots of good meaty acting particular by Joanna Cassidy. Also Brosnan has rarely been better. Co-written by George Axlrod (his last screen credit).

Pretty dry thriller (comedy?) that is peak cold war all over. Also Pierce Brosnan is hot as shit.

Most exciting part was recognising the busker towards the start of the movie is Upside Down Buddy Holly in the Young Ones

30th Anniversary of The Fourth Protocol today. Another film that I've never seen (the day is full of them, save one). And this was decent. It's more of a slow burn spy thriller with two good leads in Pierce Brosnan and Michael Caine. The late John Mckenzie directs this in almost a procedural way. And it's got a very mid-80's, height of the Cold War plot involving the Soviet Union and nuclear proliferation agreements. My only complaint against this film is that it's a little too dry and long at nearly 2 hours. This was an adaptation of the 1984 novel of the same name.

young pierce brosnan as a totally wooden kgb agent whose only apparent weakness is his horniness?? (not sure) older michael caine being that one character he plays (but i like it) and a full spectrum of attempts or non-attempts at doing a russian accent that genuinely had me trying to figure out why so many british and american guys were working at the kgb for like the first half of the film. weirdly the total shitshow of a plot is interspersed with a few really nicely shot and paced slow burn tactical/action scenes. huh. cant win em all hey.

Неплохая, хоть и несколько затянутая экранизация обычно сухого и нудноватого Фредерика Форсайта. За 8 лет до превращения в Бонда Броснан играет советского шпиона Петровского, планирующего активировать в Англии атомную бомбу, а сэр Майкл Кейн в роли престарелого Гарри Палмера его ловит.

Pretty dry thriller (comedy?) that is peak cold war all over. Also Pierce Brosnan is hot as shit.

Most exciting part was recognising the busker towards the start of the movie is Upside Down Buddy Holly in the Young Ones

young pierce brosnan as a totally wooden kgb agent whose only apparent weakness is his horniness?? (not sure) older michael caine being that one character he plays (but i like it) and a full spectrum of attempts or non-attempts at doing a russian accent that genuinely had me trying to figure out why so many british and american guys were working at the kgb for like the first half of the film. weirdly the total shitshow of a plot is interspersed with a few really nicely shot and paced slow burn tactical/action scenes. huh. cant win em all hey.

A nice slow build thriller, that is as far away from the Bond franchise as you can get. Plenty of twists and turns as everyone stabs someone in the back and a cast list that reads like a who's who.

Неплохая, хоть и несколько затянутая экранизация обычно сухого и нудноватого Фредерика Форсайта. За 8 лет до превращения в Бонда Броснан играет советского шпиона Петровского, планирующего активировать в Англии атомную бомбу, а сэр Майкл Кейн в роли престарелого Гарри Палмера его ловит.

Somewhere between a decent made-for-tv movie and a bad cinema release.

Spy guys doing spy stuff. It’s fun. But just what exactly is the fourth protocol?

One of the last cold war spy thrillers to be made before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Great performances all around, good script.

It's just a game to you, isn't it? You both don't give a shit about anything except your lousy careers! It's about time they put you in a fucking museum!

An overlooked old-fashioned cold war spy thriller... Indeed slow-burning, but solid as a rock. Glad I was recommended this and looking forward to see The Long Good Friday any time soon.