Product: Tailor of Panama [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 5.0
MASTERFUL INTRIGUE COMES TO THE SCREEN
With a tip of his hat to Graham Greene's "Our Man In Havana" the headmaster of spy thrillers, John le Carre, gave us "The Tailor Of Panama" in 1996. Laced with humor and intellectual satire it was, as always, powerfully written with fully realized characters and an intriguing plot line.Rather often transferring a book to the screen can be disappointing for those who relished the print version. Such is surely not the case with this film, which was co-scripted by le Carre. The movie version retains all of the novel's original luster while burnishing the story with standout direction, a superb cast, and steamy scenery.British agent Andrew Osnard (Pierce Brosnan), whose career seems to be on shaky ground, is packed off to Panama charged with sending information back to his government. He's warned not to mess up in this place described contemptuously as "backwater." Our first on screen sight of it would confirm that identification. It's a heat filled morass loaded with double dealers.To assist him in his mission of ferreting out secret material Osnard chooses Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), the tailor of the title and proprietor of a shop catering to the rich and powerful in Panama. Pendel is compliant when approached by Osnard; the tailor is eager for money to pay off ill chosen investments. Married to Louise (Jamie Lee Curtis), a scrupulous aide to a goverment official, the tailor has a happy and satisfying home life that he wants to maintain.Trouble is he lies. When Osnard wants more info Pendel elaborates, building imaginative story upon story. Osnard turns over this false information to the British government, which reseults in top level meetings regarding the fate of the Panama Canal.Brosnan does an about face in the role of Osnard, offering a suitably malevolent portrayal of a duplicitous all-for-himself charmer. Rush is a gem - imbuing Pendel with both fear and yearning as he senses that his world is tumbling around him.Adding to the first-rate cast are Leonor Varela as Marta, a disfigured activist who is Pendel's assistant, and Brendan Gleeson as her ill-fated compatriot. Shot on location in various areas of Panama the film is a feast for the eyes.Again, three cheers for le Carre, and now another three cheers for Producer/Director John Boorman.