Neither Great nor Bad

Rating: 7/10 (19 February 2012)

Technically an excellent film, with good to very good performances by all the main actors. Some of the "games" were cute, such as never actually seeing the supposedly beautiful Ann Smiley.
While it is always fair game to re-do a screen story, there were at least a couple of annoying "improvements" to both the book and to the 1979 BBC mini-series. The one the sticks in my throat is making the character of Peter Guillam - played robot-like by "Sherlock" - gay. Why? It added nothing to the story, unless you assumed that his devoted service to Smiley was somehow sexual, which is absurd. Also in 1973 an open gay would probably be quickly booted out of the SIS.
But I do sympathize with those who complain that the storytelling was "boring." There were too many long shots of Smiley walking along a street, for no reason. I lived in London in the 70s, and, while much glitzier today, it was not all the grim, dirty, run down place the director created. That was more London of the (early) 1950s.
Also there was actually no "puzzle" for the viewer to solve, as we get only a tiny look at any of the potential traitors. So this business about a "thinking man's thriller" is nonsense. No thought is required.
Once again considerable talent has been invested in a film which somehow just doesn't reach its potential. Sad, really.