Sober espionage thriller

Rating: 7/10 (2 September 2012)

Based on the novel by John le Carre, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is a throwback to films like "The Ipcress File" and "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" - that is to say, a sober, serious tale of secret agents set in that period quaintly known as the Cold War.
Gary Oldman plays an agent for British Intelligence who's called out of retirement to uncover a possible mole in the top echelons of the agency. Set in 1973, the complex - a bit too complex at times, perhaps - plot utilizes flashbacks to unravel much of its story.
Written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan and directed by Tomas Alfredson, the movie doesn't go for the cheap thrill or the easy stunt, relying on intellect rather than action-movie antics and pyrotechnic special effects to generate its suspense. The tone is subdued and carefully modulated, the pacing slow and deliberate. And fine performances by Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, et.al., and an appropriately chilly atmosphere make for enjoyable viewing.