Product: Tailor of Panama [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 5.0
Unusually Well Crafted
THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is, arguably, the most tightly plotted novel ever written in English; so it is hardly a surprise when the author who gave us that small masterpiece acts as both writer and executive producer that the product is as well crafted as is THE TAILOR OF PANAMA. Equally well done is Brosnan's use of anti-Bond characteristics to create a credible, gone-to-seed, slightly paunchy, crude intelligence operative who is undoubtedly far more true-to-life than anything he has given us before. At the very center of the plot is a factual account of actions undertaken by former president Bush as director of the CIA. That alone would be worth the price of admission as it clearly shows the foundations upon which our present national scandals are built (greed as repugnant as Noriega himself), but that is only the starting point for Le Carre. This is a movie for those who don't mind thinking as they watch--if you believe Lucas's franchise wisdom-filled, you might want to stick with film that stars special effects. The 'special effects' in this movie are both integral and, sadly, the most missed of all effects in most recent movies: tight plotting, sterling performances, intelligent editing, credible characters well recognized. Brosnan's performance would be a show stealer were it not for the fact that Rush is equally as good as the tailor and Curtis as good as I've ever seen her; the supporting cast adds immeasurably as well. This movie is far too well done to have attained the lowest-common-denominator market niche that makes for great financial return, so if this one slipped in and out of your local theatres before you got a chance to see it by all means buy a copy and enjoy a story intended for an audience with a bit more sophistication than the rather tiresome ground zero of all those movies aimed at hormone-addled seventeen year olds just discovering estrus.