I have not read the John le Carre novel that this film is based on. But just the cast (Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Thomas Hardy, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, etc!), the director (Tomas Alfredson, who helmed the original Let the Right One In), and genre (old-school spy thriller!) puts this one near the top of the must-see list. We can all decry the unending parade of remakes, sequels, and fantasy films, especially in the summer time. But as long as stuff like this is still being made and being given a wide release, then the game is not lost. Let us hope that John Hurt provides the exposition, while Gary Oldman again plays with low-key anguish, which has become his strength of late. And since I have not read the novel or seen the 1979 miniseries, I do not know if the film continues the classic Gary Oldman tradition. Ironically, Focus Features is putting it out on November 18th, against Happy Feet 2 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part I. So while it won't win its opening weekend, it will likely far outpace its rivals on the Tomato-Meter.
Scott Mendelson
Scott Mendelson
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