Utterly absorbing and entirely classy.

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2012)

Gary Oldman delivers the most masterful performance of his career in 2012's first five star film. With a body of work that has centred around loud, extroverted and often vicious characters – Sid and Nancy, The Firm, State of Grace, True Romance, Leon the Professional, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Oldman goes against type with his portrayal of old-school spy George Smiley; he's all subtle looks and measured body language, barely raising his voice and getting a hair out of place. Although undeniably his show, Oldman is not alone; Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds and John Hurt round out the cast to die for, each and every one of them filling their roles with intrigue and complexity. Behind the camera, Swede Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) brings his meticulous eye for detail and slow-burning shooting style to the proceedings, lending this espionage tale immense gravitas. To cap it all off, and ensure the movie's place in the highest echelon of cinema, the score by Alberto Iglesias is fantastically atmospheric and the soft-lensed cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema is outstanding. Tinker Tailor is utterly absorbing and entirely classy – for those who enjoy intelligent thrillers it's near-on perfect.