Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy [** SPOILERS FROM POST 174 ONWARD **

JP Liz V1

http://www.slashfilm.com/mark-strong-joins-tinker-tailor-soldier-spy/

Just about every development on Tomas Alfredson‘s film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy seems to be a good one. The cast is a knockout (Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jared Harris and Ciaran Hinds) and now there’s another good name on board, as Mark Strong has signed to appear. We don’t know his role, but at one point Ralph Fiennes was said to have a part, and he’s fallen away from recent reports. Could Strong be his replacement?
The info comes via the one reliable writer at the Daily Mail, which also reports that Svetlana Khodchenko is also now set for a role as a Russian spy.
Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan wrote the script, which adapts John Le Carré‘s novel about retired MI6 agent George Smiley (Oldman) who is called back to serve when a high-ranking member of MI6 is suspected of being a Soviet mole.

Producer Tim Bevan confirmed to the Daily Mail that the film would be set in the ’70s, which puts to rest one question we’ve had since the film started to come together. I still hope that Le Carré and Morgan (who wrote an early draft) and O’Connor and Straughan have kept the jargon that was used in the novel. Le Carré called MI6 ‘the circus’, black bag ops were ’scalphunters’ and American agents were ‘the cousins’. That aspect remains uncertain — if you’ve got the script, consider letting us have a look. I’d expect that will indeed be part of the script, as Le Carré is reportedly adamant that little be changed.

Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy has been adapted twice before: by the BBC for television in 1979 with Alec Guinness starring as George Smiley, and then by BBC Radio 4 in 1988. A 1982 BBC mini-series later adapted Smiley’s People (again with Guinness), the third book in the trilogy, but the middle chapter has never made it to screen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1345061/Sherlock-star-Benedict-Cumberbatch-goes-blond-new-film-role.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

He sprang to fame in 2010 starring as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC's modern spin on the classic detective - but now Benedict Cumberbatch is turning his attentions to something totally different.
The 34-year-old actor has not only changed era but has changed his looks for his role in the remake of classic thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - straightening his hair and dying it blond.
The film is based on the Cold War-era novel by John le Carre and will see Benedict take on the crucial role of Peter Guillam, a member of MI6 who is called upon to track down a possible mole within the organisation................................................

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1326808/BAZ-BAMIGBOYE-Gary-Oldman-talks-laying-Alec-Guinnesss-ghost-rest-new-film.html



Gary Oldman believed he had a hard act to follow to emulate Alec Guinness' portrayal of spy-catcher George Smiley

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/

Fuzzy_Dunlop

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Is that Oldman? It looks a bit like Bill Nighy almost or is that me?(it's probably just the glasses:P)

humanji

I'm really looking forward to this. I loved the Alec Guinness version. Must have a see if I can pick that one up, actually.

Fago123

Trailer below, looks awesome. Amazing cast.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2011/jun/30/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-traiker

fruvai

Looks great - can't wait to see it

JP Liz V1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6cH_Fg3ds8

Goldstein

Looks great, finally something to look forward to

That's one hell of an ensemble.

Teyla Emmagan

Looks AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGG. What a cast.

I love Benedict.

missingtime

This, I am looking forward to.

Basq

Now THAT'S a talented cast..

.. looking forward to it!

Sad Professor

That's what I call a trailer! And if the cast isn't enough to get excited about, it's also from Tomas Alfredson, the director of Let the Right One In. They can definitely count me in. This has just gone on my must-see list.

It's out here in September, about 2 months earlier than the US.

mikemac

Some great actors in this, looking forward to it

Sad Professor

New trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TvdqRvCwGg

Can't wait for this.

Kur4mA

Defo on my must see list too. I think this looks epic and the suspense even in the trailer set the hair standing on end!

JP Liz V1

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j379/moviesireland/TinkerHR2.jpg

krudler

cast of the year? cant wait for this

paddyismaddy

krudler wrote: »

cast of the year? cant wait for this

+ 1

could be film of the year

cml387

TBH the television series was to me an absolutely perfect adaptation of the book.
Some people found it too hard to follow (including the cast with the execption of Sir Alec who had actually read the book).

I am afraid of a dumbed down version "based" on the book.

I agree the cast is pretty impressive though.

Jako8

The music in that first trailer is awesome. Looking forward to this!

Handsome Bob

Jako8 wrote: »

The music in that first trailer is awesome. Looking forward to this!

It's funny, the music for me is reminiscent of another Oldman film, Dracula. Weird given the genres of both films. They both just have that creepy, foreboding sound.

Sad Professor

The music in the first trailer is from Danny Elfman's Wolfman score. According to IMDb, Alberto Iglesias is doing the score for this.

butters.scotch

Actually it's from "XMen First Class" by Henry Jackman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b52vjdkYBAU&feature=related

butters.scotch

Sorry don't know how to embed a youtube link. The youtbube link is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b52vjdkYBAU&feature=related

Sad Professor

No, we're talking about the first trailer that JP Liz posted earlier in the thread. It is Danny Elfman. The newer trailers use the X-Men track.

stealinhorses

Looks absolutely unreal. I can see this being very dark and atmospheric, much to Alfredson's doing, and the ensemble cast is excellent. Top guns in British cinema at the moment.
I actually saw the book in Chapters the other day, thought of buying it, but I would have to finish it in three weeks... oh, the dilemma.

paddy kerins

Don't normally look forward to films like this but the cast has some outstanding actors. Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman. All a joy to watch in anything they're in

humanji

Just finished watching the original series again last night. Just fantastic stuff. Though I do worry about how much they may have to cut out.

Sad Professor

First review is out and it's from Empire. They gave it 5 stars. Scans here:

http://lornasp.tumblr.com/post/9409186876

johnny_ultimate

Sad Professor wrote: »

it's from Empire.

:pac:

Looking forward to this though. Have managed to cover my ears and eyes and all I know is Gary Oldman is in it, its based on a novel I dont know anything about, and it's directed by the guy who did Let the Right One In.

Success!

Sad Professor

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

:pac:

I know... But I assume they didn't get any set invites and free mugs for this film, so I think they can be trusted.

johnny_ultimate

Sad Professor wrote: »

I know... But I assume they didn't get any set invites and free mugs for this film, so I think they can be trusted.

I'm sure this film will indeed be great, but ever since they gave Scott Pilgrim and The World five stars I can't help but feel Empire will give anything a perfect score just to be hip. "***** - Empire" is just slightly above "***** - Nuts" in my book (slight hyperbole alert!) Any respect I once had for that magazine (and I do have quite a large pile of 'em in my room) has long since been lost.

krudler

Same, back in the 90's Empire was a superb magazine, now its a case of front cover feature in June= 4/5 star review in July.

I buy about 2 issues a year, usually on train journeys as its the only magazine the shop in the train station near me sells I'd be interested in, aside from that I'd never buy it, I do use their forum though even though its been a while since I posted regularly on there.

Jako8

I was gonna buy the book but I decided to wait until after the movie. So I have no idea what this film could contain. Looking forward to it.

kenco

Jako8 wrote: »

I was gonna buy the book but I decided to wait until after the movie. So I have no idea what this film could contain. Looking forward to it.

Buy the book now and read before the film or hold off as if you do you are likely to start reading it just after the film. The book has much more complexity than the TV adaptation which was around 6hrs and will therefore fill in a lot more for the upcoming movie.

I have read and reread the book several times and it is easily one of if not the best in the genre. Also its the first of a trilogy. The beeb never did the second as its set in the Far East and would have been too expensive but they did the other 'bookend' of Smileys People which is very different but also very good.

The middle book "The Honorable Schoolboy" is tough going compared to the first and last but thats to be expected.

johnny_ultimate

Saw it this morning and am not disappointed. Masterful direction and acting. Easily the great ensemble of the year - Hardy, Oldman, Hurt, Jones, Firth all superb. Alfederson is the real star though, and even the Opening scenes literally drip with tension.

I can't say how good an adaptation it is, but despite some minor moments of confusion the dense narrative is very accessible. Maybe not the best film of the year, but definitely one of the most engaging.

Sad Professor

Where did you see it?

johnny_ultimate

Super special preview screening

Only problem is I have no-one to talk to about it for a week

Sad Professor

Lucky bastard.

grohlisagod

This looks like it's going to be excellent. I haven't read the book. Just wondering if people think it would be a good idea to read the book before I go to see the film or just go and enjoy the film? Not sure myself.

Ignore this, I just saw the earlier post.

Podge_irl

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Super special preview screening

Only problem is I have no-one to talk to about it for a week

Just back from my own super special preview screening of it.

The first half of it reminded me a lot of The Assassination of Jesse James in how it was directed. First half was a bit slow, second half picked up to a better pace I thought. The narrative was a little confusing at times.

Still not entirely sure what I think of it. Excellent acting all round.

johnny_ultimate

Hmm, the only narrative point I got a bit confused with

was who Control was. I had it in my head that it was Mark Strong's character for various reasons. Also the way they handled Control's death by showing it in the middle of a time-shifting montage was very peculiar decision. Also wasn't quite sure what the hell anyone was arguing about during that big argument scene in the Circus.

Other than that, though, I was glad how down to earth the storytelling was. I had feared it might have been very name, place and time heavy. And it is, but accessibly so. Having a recognisable cast does wonders for being able to pick up on each characters role.

Podge_irl

Wait....

Control died? Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention, I don't remember that at all

The recognisable actors helped. It mostly came together for me at the end, but I was kinda confused at times during it. Pretty similar view was held by those I saw it with. I also kind of dislike the "character looking pensive while scene cuts" approach in the first half of the movie.

johnny_ultimate

Podge_irl wrote: »

Wait....

Control died? Maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention, I don't remember that at all

Heh, I was hoping I was the only one who didn't pick up on it immediately! But yeah, remember there was a brief shot of him collapsed in a hospital bed having just dropped a plate? Since it wasn't vitally relevant to the plot I kinda forgot it, but only remembered a scene or two after the one where the other four call Peter into the office to ask him about Tarr. Definitely could have been handled a bit better.

kenco

As Smiley put it in the book Control

'died of old age....a little early'

tricky D

Any comparisons to the TV series?

I've just watched the first three episodes and am in a dilema about waiting for the film or finish the other 4 episodes.

Also fyi, TTSS and Smiley's People DVDs are £6.89 on sendit: http://www.sendit.com/elysium.search?search=smileys+people

kenco

^^ Finish the TV series and then go to the movie.

I think the TV series (aside from some early bits) is great. The book has more complexity naturally but I am fascinated to see how they will tell the story with all its threads in 2 odd hours.

I know this is the Film thread but if you can read the book and follow up with the others from the Trilogy. You dont have to do the middle one (very tough going) but it helps. The last Smileys People is very good but also quite different. Interesting to see if they make a movie of it on the basis of the already strong vibes around TTSS

cml387

When the television series was shown originally, The New Musical Express (much bigger seller and more influential than now alas) were tempted to put somewhere in an issue "

xxxxx xxxxx

is the mole" before the series concluded.

Wiser heads prevailed.

ChunkyLover_53

Saw this on a preview tonight.

Really enjoyed it. Some great performances. Oldmans character George Smiley can speak volumes without blinking an eye.

Everyone smokes a drinks copious amounts of booze. Brilliant Cold War drama not on the same complication level as Inception but enough to keep you concentrating on events.

Keep an eye out for Trigger from Only Fools & Horses.

Good Show.

spankmaster2000

Saw it last night; and for the first time in my life, witnessed something I'd never seen before.
The chap sitting to my right fell asleep and started snoring.

My own girlfriend got a bit bored, and when I told her about the guy beside me, she revealed that a girl sitting to her left actually fell asleep for 5 minutes as well!


Whatever about those 3; I hope that's not the general consensus, as I really enjoyed it! :mad:

(It can be a bit slow in places though. And it's very "monotone".)

temply

Brilliant

So atmospheric, amazing performance by Oldman, Hardy also played a blinder, hard to follow at times, but it held my attention all the way through.

temply

anyone able to tell me what the french song was that played at the end???