Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was one I'd hoped to see at the movies, but didn't. (There were 3 I wanted to see all out at the same time, and Safe House won). I was rather keen to see this one, as spy thrillers are right up my alley. I hadn't even realised that Colin Firth was in it - score!
Due to my exhausted state while watching, this won't be the most in-depth, intelligent discussion ever. And because I was watching with someone else, I didn't stop to take notes... Although, I'm not sure I would have anyway. I really enjoyed this movie, and it's one I would watch again - mostly to work out more of what on earth was going on. I think I worked it out, but I am rather dim when it comes to plot intricacies. Often I get to the end of a movie, think "that was great!", but can't explain what happened along the way. This was one of those. There is still one scene, just a snippet in a bit of a montage (you gotta have a montage), that is still saying "why???" in my head.
I was quite proud of myself for working out the culprit before it was revealed at the end. I'm not sure how I feel about the culprit, though. He was the only character I actually liked, even after the revelation of his badness.
The music I enjoyed, it was quite apt without being a cliched 'ooh this is a spy thriller' soundtrack. And the camera work - well. The whole movie was so dark, so gloomy, so atmospheric. You could see the griminess of bureaucracy and secrets, it made me long for sunshine and clean air. I couldn't help thinking, too, that this was an England in which I'd been, albeit a few years later.
Still, the whole spy thing raises this question in me every time - how would I actually go at working out a spy, detecting a mole? Finding out who is actually lying to me while giving the air of wide-eyed innocence? And all this without the help of a script and plot? Which always gives rise to the other question - how would I go at being a spy myself?
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