Indeed for people brought on with pompous and effective image of MI6 draw in their heads by James Bond, his fellow, George Smiley (excellent Gary Oldman) seems to be absolutely boring.
He is not sexy either. He wears grey coat and thick glasses, his hair could have seen a hairdresser weeks earlier. He seems to be grey guy doing grey job.
But the real picture of an intelligence officer is exactly that average looking chap. Watching his actions, we may feel like in a theatre. Despite moving around the streets on occasion, most of the plot happens between just a few people in not more than 4 or 5 rooms. Engaging dialogues in harmonious calm set where even a bee has it's place.
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" has one genuine strength. The very very realistic scenery. Every detail in the movie is worked perfectly. There are no GSM towers on the horizon, or too modern cars, or any cellphone ringing anywhere. It is real London of the 70's, a little bit brownish, grey, rainy with low buildings, always dirty from forever smog.
The extreme accuracy with which the movie is done is I suppose a result of a close cooperation between the director Thomas Alfredson and the author of the book upon which the movie was done, John le Carre.
While every single of John le Carre's books is an ideal real life plot full of surprising events among very boring normal people, the book "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is a special one. David John Moore Cornwell, as is le Carre's real name has got 20 years of active service in British intelligence. His role and identity in the Circus as MI6 is called among the workers, got burnt down due to betrayal of Kim Philby, one of the Great Five, group of smart Oxford students recruited into intelligence work. By writting the "Karla Trilogy" le Carre deals with memories of his own past in the service. Only long after those events he can finally write about it and be not afraid for his life.
In history there had been probably a number of moles situated at the top of British intelligence. One of them was allegedly Richard Hollis, the very head of MI5. Peter Wright who first wrote a book about him, could not have printed it anywhere outside Australia. He was forced into retirement and lived as a farmer until his death as a millionaire due to sells of his book "Spycatcher".
Several days ago the identity of another Russian spy who tried to infiltrate British high class was revealed by Daily Telegraph. Mikhail Repin, young, synpathetic, witty gentleman who spoke flawless english had done his best to try to recruit members of the Parliament and officials working at Downing Street 10.
He was cought. Maybe there is hope for Britain, that the country may improve it's image which got really compromised. If indeed there was a mole at the top, a lot of events in the history of 20th century makes sense, including the story of Polish army in the West which got buried officially and banned from publically being spoken about until the very fall of communism. There is indeed something in it....
For those boys who dream in their mucho heads about James Bond life. Beware.
Cash, maybe. Women, sometimes.
Peace of mind, never. Friends, never. Watching behind your shoulder, always.
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"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy", Thomas Aldredson, 2011.
