Complicated spy thriller, but has potential for boredom.

Rating: 6/10 (20 May 2016)

I was kind of disappointed after watching this, but it does have a fair amount of strong points. It's one of those movies that gets a lot of Oscar recognition and nobody wants it in the running but we aren't surprised that it is. The performances and the way it's directed feel like, for lack of a better term, Oscar bait. That aside, it at least gives us a spy movie that is not based off of James Bond with lots of explosions and invincible characters, but rather examines what actually goes on most of the time within the Secret Service.
I must admit that I don't understand how the plot all works. If you had difficulty following the first Mission Impossible movie, you will be very confused by this. There are too many names that go with lots of people and you need to know the names to follow everything. Sometimes a confusing plot is okay, because knowing how everything works makes you appreciate it more. But with spy movies, it really doesn't advance any themes or anything like that.
However, the basic conflict is that there is a mole in the middle of the Circus whom George Smiley (Gary Oldman) must search for. He has very little personality or evident drive which is not uncommon among spy characters. However, his character is kind of exposed by the story since there is a degree of emphasis on the friendship between all of the members of the circus in that one flashback party scene. But despite this friendship, Smiley does not hesitate to find which of his friends is the mole. This speaks volumes for his character, because it shows that he values the integrity of his job and the security of his nation over his social relationships. Perhaps this is cold-hearted, but perhaps it is courageous. Whichever it is, I doubt that it will trouble you much since there is so much more to keep your mind occupied if you don't decide to give up and turn it off.
Technically, it feels very well done. The camera-work feels very deliberate and artsy, but not in a Quentin Tarantino way. The acting, again, is Oscar baiting. This does not suggest that the all-star cast is molding their delivery in search of awards, but the performances are very low-key, which awards judges seem to like. For this reason, I would suggest that you not watch it because of a certain actor. I like several of the prominent actors, but I didn't really think they made it a better movie. The lighting is rather notable with its off-tone color scheme and dramatically deep shadows.
If you want a traditional action spy movie, this is not the place to look. But if you want a bit of a brain puzzle that involves logic, this is good. The material barely meets the requirements for its R-rating, but it's definitely an adult movie for a more serious middle aged audience. This doesn't mean that it's necessarily boring, but many young movie fans will think that it is. Overall Rating: 7.2/10