Review: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

 After completely redefining what a horror film could be with Let the Right One In,Tomas Alfredson has crafted the definitive spy film with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; setting a new standard for the spy genre and political thrillers in general.
 Gary Oldman plays George Smiley, a retired British intelligence agent who is called back into duty to root out a mole in MI-6. Oldman is mesmerizing. There is a meticulous nature to Oldman's performance that makes you think every movement, down to his breathing, is intentional and plotted. In a way very few actors can pull off lately, you completely forget you are watching an actor and lose yourself in the character. The human drama that Smiley has going on under the surface is expertly left to simmer in Oldman's cold stares.
 The plot is so simple that the description above is really all that need to be said about it. The film is a classic mole hunt, with surprising twists that you'd never contemplate but a beautiful ending that wraps up in such a way that you feel vindicated when you get to say, "I knew it!" The movie does not leave a lot of room for explanation, so if you've found yourself scratching your head at a thriller in the past, this movie is not for you.
 Highlights: The superb British cast. John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch. All of them outstanding in the film and in their roles. Benedict Cumberbatch shows why he will be the next big leading man out of Britain. Beautifully shot and stylized for cold war era England. Fully engrossing dialogue; MI-6 is always referred to by it's codename, "the Circus." Tiny details like that go so far in making the film feel authentic. The realistic depiction of intelligence work being mostly paper chasing.
 Disappointments: The spontaneous transitions to other characters arcs and other the main characters past reflections can be a bit jarring. You're left wondering if you just saw someone's bak story or something that is "currently" happening. Only happens a few times, but it does require a bit of "catchup" from the audience.
 From moment one, the movie creates a palpable tension that you need for a spy thriller like this to work. The movie is a puzzle that the director is letting you help solve and only puts the pieces in place when you've figured them out for yourself. I cannot recommend this film enough.