Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

[Revolver]

So I went to see this last night. Let me start off by saying don’t ever try to watch this whilst tired or late at night. I went to a 2215 showing and when the feature presentation was about to start I checked my watch. Realising it was already 2245 didn’t exactly put me in the correct frame of mind for watching a two hour film!

So, we know TTSS is a 70’s based “intelligence” thriller about a Russian mole in the British Secret Intelligence Service. Our friend Mr. Smiley (Gary Oldman) is brought out of retirement and tasked with investigating how true the “crazy theories” of a mole are and who it could be. It all sounds very exciting doesn’t it? Well it isn’t. Now I wasn’t expecting any car chases or explosions but I was expecting some tension or anticipation. I got nothing. I got nothing apart from some confusion.

Less than 8 hours since the film finished and I can barely name four characters. Names and faces are introduced and thrown all over the place as if you knew who they were before the film started. It’s like half an hour of the film - the character development - was edited out to shorten the film. Ironic given that in the first 10 minutes nothing seemed to happen apart from watching a man walk into his house. Maybe I fell asleep and missed something, I really don’t know. There are flash backs here and there and events seem to run completely out of sync. Things happen and then you find out why later, but not in a here "3 days earlier" way, it’s just confusing.

The story is actually incredibly simple and it’s the showing of events explaining later mechanic that makes it confusing. I would agree that part of the problem was probably tiredness on my part. I don’t doubt that if I watched it again with a slightly livelier or caffeine soaked brain it might be a bit more enjoyable. But having seen it once I’m not too sure I could be bothered with it again. As clever as it may or may not be, it doesn’t really grip you like I thought it would. So what is the point watching a film that has no emotion? It felt to me to just be one of those films that you watch just to see what happens.

This film will definitely split opinions. Some will love it. Some will hate it. Some just won’t understand it. In the last of those three sentences you can replace the word "Some" with "Women".

Here’s hoping Drive is a bit more exciting on Saturday!

[skeletor]

If Drive isn't more entertaining that this then the director should be shot.

[Revolver]

We I've watched two films that have been advertised with the tag line "film event of the year". They have both been disappointing.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
and
Super 8

[skeletor]

They didn't state which year...

I'm sure they would of looked great in 30 B.C.

[sparksy]

maybe you had your mind on poo rev...

[Revolver]

maybe you had your mind on poo rev...

Funnily enough, I'm taking as a dump as I write this. I think the fibre is helping
That and thinking about the shit that is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy