Product: Tailor of Panama [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 3.0
A Satire on Political Thrillers
Panama is important for its wide-open banking system (money laundering) and as a way station for drug shipments. An agent from MI-6 in London is sent there to do what they do. (Don't ask if you don't have a need to know.) There is a Savile Row tailor who business is shaky; he needs money quickly. [Could higher-ups be squeezing Harry Pendel, the tailor, to turn him into a source of information?] Harry's custom includes the ruling class of Panama. Andrew Osnard pays 5,000$US for a tour of Panama. This includes a man whose tongue is loosened by liquor.The poor people are fed up with their oppression by their corrupt rulers, but can do nothing but complain. [As in other countries?] Osnard gathers information on the "silent opposition" in Panama. CIA Director George Bush made Noriega the ruler of Panama. President George Bush ended Noriega's reign with an invasion by US military forces. There is a flashback to show how Noriega's police kept law and order. [They don't tell what is going on now.] The information that Pendel provides is startling, the higher-ups want confirmation in writing. [The conspirators must put something in writing.] The film shows the odd locales used for meetings (a hotel, a dance hall). A strange travelogue indeed! When Harry thinks about quitting Andy threatens to expose and ruin his life.The film shows how this misinformation rises to the top in an American-British conference. [Do you see the satire here?] The plan is to back the opposition to put a new class in power in Panama. The truth seems to be that any excuse will do as a reason to invade Panama and seize the canal. [An echo of Suez?] Would Ronald Reagan approve? There is a car chase like in other spy stories, but this ends in the weeds. Andy Osnard catches a private jet to Switzerland, he is aided by the British Ambassador. Is this the start of a beautiful friendship? There is a happy ending (which contradicts the main part of this story). Does satire do well at the box office?Films are the condensed and simplified versions of the novel they are taken from. Sometimes the story is changed, for better or worse.