Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds ... see more see more... , John Hurt , Simon McBurney , Svetlana Khodchenkova , Benedict Cumberbatch , Toby Jones , David Dencik , Kathy Burke , Stephen Graham , Zoltán Musci , Arthur Nightingale , Amanda Fairbank-Hynes , Peter McNeil O'Connor , Roger Lloyd-Pack , Matyelok Gibbs , Philip Hill-Pearson , Jamie Thomas King , Stuart Graham , Konstantin Khabenskiy , Sarah-Jane Robinson , Katrina Vasilieva , Linda Marlowe , William F. Haddock , Erskine Wylie , Philip Martin Brown , Tomasz Kowalski , Alexandra Salafranca , Denis Khoroshko , Oleg Dzhabrailov , Gillian Steventon , Nick Hopper , Laura Carmichael , Rupert Procter , Michael Sarne , Christian McKay , Jean-Claude Jay , Tom Stuart , Péter Kálloy Molnár , Ilona Kassai , Imre Csuja

Based on the classic novel of the same name, the international thriller is set at the height of the Cold War years of the mid-20th Century. George Smiley (Gary Oldman), a disgraced British spy, is reh... read more read more...ired in secret by his government - which fears that the British Secret Intelligence Service, a.k.a. MI-6, has been compromised by a double agent working for the Soviets. -- (C) Focus Features

Flixster Users

66% liked it

43,238 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

198 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson

Release Date: December 9, 2011

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: March 20, 2012

Get It:

Stats: 4,689 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Upload a Photo | View All Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (4,689)

  • aquateen2
    May 28, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    The first thing to say is, it's the film of the book, and what a dazzlingly envisioned adaption it turns out to be, never skimping on visual style and character development. It's a good old fashioned mys... read moretery tale that pitches itself to a niche audience. Having said that many have noted it's not a film for everyone and I couldn't agree more. Despite, it deserves universal credit as one of the most crisp and faithful adaptions ever crafted. The performance of Gary Oldman as the lonely misunderstood George Smiley is outstanding, his movements and use of all senses is highly imaginative, and just jaw droppingly perfect! He isn't the only stand out actor, I think that the film is ensemble and the supporting performances of everyone else involved are in equal measure; amazing. The dialogue is also very sharp and the set pieces, are quite simply the work of a master artist, they completely blew me away. There is a lot to like about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, having said that no one can call it; completely and utterly boring. Unlike many modern spy films it's a caringly nostalgic and sophisticated movie, i'll admit people will dislike it, but if you cant find anything at all good in it you aren't very observant. Basically the film is flawless in every possible sense, the only problem is not everyone will understand it, I did.
  • MrMarakai
    May 23, 2012
    MrMarakai
    After the success of his Swedish horror film "Let the Right One In", director Tomas Alfredson tackles the novel of John le Carre which first aired as a British TV miniseries in 1979 starring Alec Guinness. It's a tough project to take on when all eyes are on you but Alfredson ab... read moreilities are perfectly suited to the material.
    After a botched mission, the head of MI6, British Intelligence spymaster, known as Control (John Hurt) is sacked from the agency along with his number-one man, George Smiley (Gary Oldman). Soon after their sacking, information is revealed that a Soviet mole has infiltrated the Secret service and worked his way up to the highest echelon. Smiley is then approached to take on a new assignment: spy on the spies and find out who the mole could be.
    The first thing to grab your attention about this film is its style. It captures London in the 1970's to the minutest detail and cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema deserves every credit for his striking work here. To compliment the lush imagery is a perfectly pitched score by Alberto Iglesias and within minutes the game, that is espionage, is set. Alfredson is a director that obviously likes to work at a certain pace. That pace may be excruciatingly slow for some people but it can also be highly effective. In this case, it's the latter. This film ruminates long and hard on it's characters and their subtleties. However, it is so convoluted and dialogue driven that the slightest lapse in concentration will leave the film incomprehensible. I don't profess to have understood it entirely but I kept up to speed enough to be left satisfied with the outcome. My review of this may be posted a little early though, as this is a film that definitely requires at least two sittings. For that reason, I have settled on my current rating but that will only ever get higher if I get around that second viewing. A couple of criticisms I had was a lack of any real action. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting Jason Bourne to make a appearance but it threatened a few exciting set-pieces and then didn't deliver. The other was the identity of the double-agent; it became clear earlier than it should have which lessened the impact of the final revelation. These are small gripes though as the suspense and intrigue were engrossing and more than competently handled by the director and his eclectic cast of quality British actors - I happen to be an admirer of every one of them. It's Oldman though, in the lead role, that is the real standout. He's very reserved and it's a performance that may disappoint fans of his intense roles like Drexl from "True Romance" or Stansfield from "Leon" but he holds a presence that hints of something darker to his character. At first, it was a performance that I didn't really see what all the fuss - and Oscar nomination - was about. That was, until the film draws to close and you realise that Oldman has had you captivated for over two hours. The story itself is difficult to speak of as I'd be entering into spoiler territory, not to mention my review would be in danger of becoming very long-winded. Rest assured though, this is a thoroughly involving and accomplished mystery.
    An enthralling and masterfully constructed spy thriller that is handled with such a deftness of skill that it doesn't allow you to switch off for a second.
  • blkbomb
    May 18, 2012
    blkbomb
    Oliver Lacon: It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies? 

    "Trust no one. Suspect everyone."

    Well, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy isn't the perfect film I had been waiting months to see, but it was still an intelligent and remarkably well made film. This is sl... read moreow, meticulous filmmaking at work. The pace is sluggish, but the content is flying at us. If this was a fast paced movie, it would be impossible to keep up with. As it is, it is still a little hard to follow at times; but never is it not intriguing. The reason for the intrigue is the acting. Everyone is perfect in tuis film. Among them is one of my favorites, Gary Oldman. His performance here as George Smiley isn't necessarily my favorite from him, but damn if it isn't one of his best. He is at the top of his game here as an unglamorous spy. He isn't running, shooting, and jumping; he talks and sits, but the intrigue from his character is stunning. 

    This isn't the typical spy film we are used to. This isn't Mission Impossible or Bourne Identity. It's serious and realistic. It's more like The American, except much, much better. Tinker... won't be for everyone as I can see from the audiences reviews. It's slow pace and lack of big action scenes will put off a lot of casual movie goers. A lot of people went into this expecting the same type of film they've been accustomed to, and when a film isn't what you expect; you normally don't take well to it. 

    I can't say I loved the movie as I did have some problems with the extent to which we got to know it's characters(barely any). The suspects didn't seem to really matter to much in the story because we barely knew what was going on with them. Everything other than that was really well done though. The film looked great, and as I've stated before the acting was perfect. Not a masterpiece, but still a good movie.
  • Deano78
    May 15, 2012
    Deano78
    A classy film with a wide array of fine English actors on show. A compelling story set during the days of the cold war. However the very slow pace will put a lot of people off and it's running time is a fair bit longer than needed. One you really need to pay close attention to, ... read moreand work out the code words and what they refer to. It just didn't have any real action for me, which let it down. A fine performance from talented cast nevertheless.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    April 25, 2012
    MidnightMadwoman
    I hate to say it but I found this movie... really... boring. Just dull. The serpentine plot and all the wheelings-and-dealings lost me, and that was the only strength of the movie. All the characters seemed to be talking about things that the audience had no basis of reference fo... read morer. If I hadn't read the case (in French, no less), I wouldn't have known they meant MI6 when they talked about "The Circus". If you're not in it for the plot, there's nothing else to hold your attention. It seemed to me that it really only got going near the end. I woke up and started watching, and then the thing ended. Ugh. Maybe if I watch it again and pay very very close attention it won't lose me, but I don't see the point.
  • fb619846742
    April 21, 2012
    fb619846742
    The best, and most intricately put together, film of 2011, concerning espionage during the Cold War era and how a disgraced former spy (Gary Oldman) is brought out of retirement secretly by the British government to uncover a long-term mole within the agency. While the viewer nev... read moreer knows exactly everything that is going on, one can not help but be enthralled by the amount of paranoia and cynicism that each character in the story shares, when even they do not know what is going on. Director Tomas Alfredson has crafted a timeless epic of betrayal and distrust, all handled masterfully by an ensemble cast that is amongst the best I can recall recently. Gary Oldman's sublime turn is the stuff of legends, as the forever under-rated character actor once again demonstrates why he deserves more love from both the Academy and the general public for providing us with a soft-spoken, but magnificent turn. Not for all tastes, to be sure, but for those that love layered stories acted by an excellent ensemble cast, this is quite the film. A fabulous picture, and one that deserves many re-watches.
  • fb100000212943704
    April 12, 2012
    fb100000212943704
    John le Carre's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" has been beautifully adpated by Tomas Alfredson and his team, in a wonderful combination of excellent narrative, technique and entertainment. Released two weeks ago in mid September Tinker Tailor has already wowed critics and audience a... read morelike.

    Based on the best selling novel by veteran thriller writer John le Carre, Tinker Tailor tells the tale of a retired MI6 or "Circus" agent tracking down a mole or double agent in the organisation. Called out of retirement, George Smiley, ironically named because of his lack of happiness, is called out of retirement by the minister for SIS Sir Percy. Driven by a relatively low in the grand scheme of things, agent at the circus, Smiley is told that there is a mole: "Right at the top of the cirus." Keeping the agent, played by Benedict Cumberbath and recruting a retired special branch officer to his team, Smiley sets out to find who the mole is, out of the four main men in the circus, nicknamed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier and Spy.

    Screen writers Peter Straughan and Bridget O'Connor have done an excellent job of adpating le Carre's difficult and complicated story. The narrative is by no means easy, with twists and turns every page, Straughan and O'Connor have mastered the excitement and the atmosphere of the novel extremely well, considering some call it the twentieth century's most un-adapatble novel.

    But what really makes the narrative work is of course the cast. A cast to drool over. Gary Oldman, one of the most under-appreciated actors to walk this Earth stars as main man George Smiley. Despite not putting on the best performance in history, Oldman plays the character well, capturing much of what le Carre and Alec Guiness did in the 1979 BBC adaptation. There are already rumours that Oldman will get an Oscar nomination, despite the one month memory of the academy and the annoying but unfortunately sometimes real situation of Oscar nods turning into nothing.

    Colin Firth is the other big man on the block who adds to the excellence of Tinker Tailor by doing his best in a pretty Firth-ish role, but still good with elements of hidden homosexuality adapted into his character of Bill Haydon. Tom Hardy, still cooling off from "Inception" last year is also good in his role of Ricki Tarr.

    John Hurt and Toby Jones both play their small roles well, but the real show offs are Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch, fresh from warner bros film Sherlock Holmes and BBC tv series Sherlock respectively. Strong again steals the show with his deep emotional eyes and anger and happiness balanced perfectly and wrapped in a brand new person for the same old Strong.

    Whilst Cumberbatch, picked up from Sherlock, shines through with his old looking blonde hair as the down the ranks agent within the circus. Although not the most crucial part, every time Cumberbatch walks on screen I found myself sitting forward with anticipation of him improving his last scene into an even better one. Kathy Burkes also makes a brief appearance as well as retired Special Branch agent man, whose name completely slips my mind.

    But the true credit must go to director Tomas Alfredson. Best known for his own language Swedish film "Let The Right One In", Alfredson breaks free of the mould of his horror tradition and creates something that brings together all the elements that make a good film and improves them even more. Script, cast, set, atmosphere and more all tick the boxes extra strongly as Tinker Tailor settles into what it is.

    Claiming the top spot for a second week in September since release, the film will be bested viewed not on DVD on a Wednesday raining boring afternoon in a couple of months, but now with the atmosphere and feel of the cinema, which contributes to this film much more than others released in the past few years.

    Overall Tinker Tailor is a film that made a mistake. The mistake of releasing in September instead of January. For it is a film that would have received a full main course of Oscar nominations including Actor, Supporting, screenplay, director and picture. Perhaps it still will. However the one month memory of the Academy will probably prevent this. Despite that, Tinker Tailor will be remembered for many years as a magnificent film.
    ****' 4 & 1/2 Stars
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 2, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a thrilling spy film set during the Cold War. Director Thomas Alfredson adapts the classic novel of the same name with flair. Alfredson who directed the brilliant horror film Let The Right One In has a great eye for what makes an effective spy thrille... read morer. Brilliantly acted and directed, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a near flawless film. probably one of the most intense spy films since 2005's Munich and 2007's Breach. I felt that film was a terrific throwback to old school spy thrillers that didn't count on fast cut scenes or nonstop action scenes in the style of The Bourne Identity. Tinker Tailor Spy is a slow paced film that takes time for the plot to unfold, which may be too slow for some viewers; but if you want a film that has more substance to its story; then this is your film. The fact that Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a throwback to old school spy thriller makes it that much more enjoyable. This is a brilliant film from start to finish, one that is very engaging, and one that will appeal to viewers who enjoy an effective spy thriller. Don't expect tense action, expect a cat and mouse style thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. What stands out for me about this is the performances from this great cast. Every actor delivers solid performances. This is a stunning spy flick that is a must see for film fans who enjoy the genre. A brilliant film that omits the usual spy thriller cliché, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a powerful film that delivers the thrills.
  • superclerk25
    March 19, 2012
    superclerk25
    It's a mystery movie that doesn't feel the need to let the audience in on the fun. While the concept and the story are interesting the characters come off as very surface level and getting a glimpse into their lives is few and far between.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    March 3, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    Very good film although slightly difficult to follow. It does go a bit slow but it also opens up a new universe for people unfamiliar with the British Secret Intelligence Service. It's fun trying to guess who it is as well as watching the characters way of thinking. It's very int... read moreelligent and if you stick with it, it's brilliant. Another watch would probably make it easier for me, and Gary Oldman deserved the Oscar for this performance (Strong is very good too).

View All Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
March 23, 2012
Roger Moore, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

The film has intrigues, shootings, infidelities and clues -- lots of clues -- which we ponder, along with the poker-faced Smiley, played with Oscar-nominated perfection by Gary Oldman. Full Review

Tom Long
January 6, 2012
Tom Long, Detroit News

Ultimately, though, it is very much Oldman's film, thanks to a restrained tour de force performance. Smiley is weathered, worn and beaten down by life, but he's also a quiet, sure force of something t... Full Review

Colin Covert
December 26, 2011
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Tinker" radically -- superlatively -- condenses John Le Carré's classic novel, which could scarcely be bounded by seven hourlong episodes in the 1979 BBC adaptation. Full Review

Steven Rea
December 22, 2011
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Just watching Gary Oldman and his trenchcoated brethren march down the damp, ill-lit streets of Cold War London is enough to make you shiver. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
December 21, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

These guys make proper English diction as compelling as a gunfight, and "Tinker Tailor" as satisfying as any shoot-'em-up using real bullets instead of words to get its point across. Full Review

Rick Groen
December 16, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

This superb remake has the inevitable look of a period piece, a smoke-filled rendering of things past. However, thanks to Tomas Alfredson's direction, a taut screenplay, and a uniformly brilliant cast... Full Review

Peter Howell
December 16, 2011
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

A movie of chain smokers and whisperers, of grey skies and glum expressions, of rattling tea cups and rotary-dialed telephones. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
December 16, 2011
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

It's a 1970s story told in 1970s style, an unrepentant un-reboot so old school that it feels subversively new. Full Review

Ty Burr
December 15, 2011
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

In its attention to detail and awareness of betrayals both political and human, "Tinker Tailor'' is a movie for grown-ups. Full Review

J. R. Jones
December 15, 2011
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy begins to seem phlegmatic after a while. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Debt
    The Debt (100%)
  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
    The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (100%)
  • L'Armée des ombres (Army in the Shadows)
    L'Armée des ombres (Army in the Shadows) (100%)
  • State of Play
    State of Play (100%)

More Movies like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Percy Alleline: Your mother smells like a fart.
    • George Smiley: We are not so very different, you and I. We've both spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in one another.
    • Bill Haydon: I thought I'd pop down and catch a glimpse at the new girl before Bland gets to her.
    • Peter Guillam: Ah, yes, Belinda the Blonde.
    • Ricki Tarr: She told me she had a secret, the mother of all secrets.
    • Oliver Lacon: It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies?
    • Oliver Lacon: There's a mole, right at the top of the Circus. And he's been there for years.
Submit a Fact | View All

Tinker Tailor Sol... : Watch Free on TV

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Trivia

  • Gary Oldman was in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy".  Answer »
  • Who plays one of the only female roles in 2011's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?  Answer »
More Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?