"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"

(R, Avail. 3/20)

It's 1974 and the Cold War is in full swing. George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a brilliant ice cold British intelligence veteran, has recently been forced into an early retirement by MI-6. But one of his former superiors needs him to come back to discover the identity of a mole within their ranks. Smiley simply is the best--and only--man for the job.

Based on John Le Carre's highly regarded novel and with the stellar 1979 BBC mini-series starring Alec Guiness to live up to, this film version of "Tinker Tailor" has an incredibly dense plot with an enormous cast of important characters for a slightly over 2-hour movie. It's a film that has to convey a lot of information within a glance or a nod, often with multiple meanings, some of which are initially unclear. Even for an intelligent and patient viewer it can be difficult to follow.

Upon seeing it for the first time, I struggled with it but liked it enough that it lingered with me. I couldn't get it out of my head and had to see it again, if only to fully understand it. After my second viewing I not only grasped it all more fully, I became completely entranced by the world of the film.

It is utterly fascinating to see the world of the Cold War nearly thirty years in. The old guard who has been at the forefront since it began (including Smiley and John Hurt's Control) is being pushed aside by younger officers who think they know better (played by Toby Jones, David Dencik, Ciarin Hinds, and Colin Firth), causing an internal pettiness that only further muddies the already murky waters. Tomas Alfredson's ("Let the Right One In") direction and the screenplay by Peter Straughan and the late Bridget O'Connor make this Cold War spy game come alive.

With a quiet, thoughtful, and career best performance by Oldman, "Tinker" also boasts the finest acting ensemble seen in a movie in 2011. Firth, Hurt, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC's "Sherlock"), and Mark Strong are all pitch perfect. Their performances go a long way in making this challenging film as pleasurable as it is.

"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" isn't for everyone, and if you're hoping for something along the lines of Bond or Bourne, you've come to the wrong place. This movie's idea of an action sequence involves switching out a set of files.

For some that will just be too drab. But for viewers like me out there, it is positively riveting and the challenging nature of the film ultimately makes it more rewarding. Also, its final few minutes are unforgettable. I look forward to watching this film a third time and getting even further beneath its surface. 9.5/10.