The Angel is Mendacious

I saw “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” this evening.

A lot of people, reviewers, fans, my friends, either don’t like this film or were underwhelmed by it. I can see why, but I found it to be a solid film.

For one thing, it has one of the best opening sequences I have ever seen. Just well shot, orchestrated, directed and acted.

That can be said for the whole film, Gary Oldman deserves his first Oscar nomination and even a win, in my opinion. (Everyone has been pushing Clooney and Pitt, but come on Gary Oldman Oscar less seems sooo wrong!)

The entire ensemble cast is absolutely brilliant. Benedict Cumberbatch in anything, but he completely grabbed my attention! I now want to go back and watch everything he’s ever been in. Colin Firth,Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, etc are always exemplerary, so you can imagine the calibur of the acting in this film.

In terms of story, yes the second act is very exposition heavy. Lots of characters, situations and twists are revealed, but it’s a spy looking for the mole story! Of course it’s going to be convuluted, of course you’re going to be a little confused! You’re supposed to in a mystery until the culprit is caught. I was very very torn about who the spy would turn out to be, but was not at all disappointed.

I will admit that the film isn’t the perfect piece of cinema I was expecting, but that’s what happens when you hope for perfection…