Filmed over three years in the mid-sixties, and finally released in 1970, this violent, surrealistic fantasy western explores Christian Biblical themes while incorporating aspects of Taoism, Zen, Vedanta, Sufism, and other Eastern philosophies. El Topo (the mole) is a gunfighter who, in the second half of the film, finds himself in a small town controlled by a religious cult that has draped the town in banners and posters of their graphic icon, an all-seeing eye within an elongated triangle.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
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Rating:
(45,691 votes)
- Taglines:How do you find an enemy who is hidden right before your eyes? » The secret is out. »
- Runtime:127 minutes
- Director: Tomas Alfredson
- Countries:France, UK, Germany
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Actors: Jim PrideauxMark StrongControlJohn HurtMagyarZoltán MucsiHungarian WaiterPéter Kálloy MolnárWoman in WindowIlona KassaiKGB AgentImre CsujaGeorge SmileyGary OldmanPercy AllelineToby JonesToby EsterhaseDavid DencikRoy BlandCiarán Hinds
- Genres:Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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Producers: Tim BevanproducerLiza Chasinexecutive producerEric FellnerproducerAlexandra Fergusonco-producerRon Halpernexecutive producerDebra Haywardexecutive producerJohn le Carréexecutive producerPeter Morganexecutive producerArtist W. Robinsonline producer: BudapestRobyn SlovoproducerAlex Sutherlandline producer: TurkeyDouglas Urbanskiexecutive producer
- Plots: In the early 1970s during the Cold War, the head of British Intelligence, Control, resigns after an operation in Budapest, Hungary goes badly wrong. It transpires that Control believed one of four senior figures in the service was in fact a Russian agent - a mole - and the Hungary operation was an attempt to identify which of them it was. Smiley had been forced into retirement by the departure of Control, but is asked by a senior government figure to investigate a story told to him by a rogue agent, Ricky Tarr, that there was a mole. Smiley considers that the failure of the Hungary operation and the continuing success of Operation Witchcraft (an apparent source of significant Soviet intelligence) confirms this, and takes up the task of finding him. Through the efforts of Peter Guillam, Smiley obtains information that eventually leads him to Jim Prideaux, the agent at the heart of the Hungary fiasco. He is then able to put together the pieces of the puzzle, which lead him to the identity of the mole and the true intent of Operation Witchcraft. Written by David Brain
- User's comment:Not everyone can be one of Smiley's people. by scunnerish
It is true to say that Smiley is no Bourne nor Bond but Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a beautifully played and observed spy film. Should you expect car chases, spills, thrills, gadgets galore and closely-choreographed fight scenes then you WILL be disappointed.
Set in smoke-filled, sepia-tinged 1970s, the film centres around the uncovering of a mole 'right at the top of the circus'. The 'circus' is the British Intelligence Services and is made up of a who's who of British acting talent - Firth, Hinds, Cumberbatch, Hardy, Strong and Hurt. For the most part, the action takes place in the brown-suited and wall-papered world of England but we are given brief glimpses of the spy territory in Budapest, Paris and Istanbul. Smiley, played inscrutably by Oldman, is tasked with uncovering the mole and is ably assisted by Guillam, the ever-watchable Cumberbatch.
Admittedly this is a slow-burn of a film, full of meaningful looks, pregnant pauses and one that hints at deeper and more complex plot strands but it has an authentic air and it is a fascinating to observe a build-up of tension and cold-war paranoia which culminates in a dramatic if subdued fashion. Being slightly too young to have watched the original Alec Guiness TV series, I cannot make any direct comparisons and I imagine that a TV series allows much more time for plot and character development. The film must be judged on its own merits, and whilst I am sure that this will not be to many mainstream movie-goers' tastes, it is one for those who are looking for a film of a different type, time and pace.
- Quotes: George Smiley: [to Karla] We are not so very different, you and I. We've both spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in one another.
- Also known as: Decko, dama, kralj, spijun (Croatia - imdb display title), Decko, dama, kralj, spijun (Serbia - imdb display title), El topo (Argentina - imdb display title), El topo (Spain - imdb display title), Шпион, выйди вон! (Russia), A Toupeira (Portugal - imdb display title), Bastunas, Siuvejas, Kareivis, Snipas (Lithuania - imdb display title), Dame König As Spion (Germany - alternative spelling), Dame, König, As, Spion (Germany - imdb display title), Dame, konge, es, spion (Denmark - imdb display title), El espía que sabía demasiado (Mexico - imdb display title), El talp (Spain - alternative title, Catalan title), Ha'hafarperet (Israel - imdb display title, Hebrew title), Köstebek (Turkey - imdb display title, Turkish title), Kai o kliros epese ston Smiley (Greece - imdb display title), La talpa (Italy - imdb display title), La taupe (France - imdb display title), Muldvarpen (Norway - imdb display title), O Espião Que Sabia Demais (Brazil - imdb display title), Pappi, lukkari, talonpoika, vakooja (Finland - imdb display title), Plekksepp, rätsep, sõdur, nuhk (Estonia - imdb display title), Suszter, szabó, baka, kém (Hungary - imdb display title), Szpieg (Poland - imdb display title), Uragiri No Saakasu (Japan - imdb display title),
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April 24th, 2011 at 1:27 am
If you have no spiritual inclination, this movie wil be a waste off time.
If you do, it might offers some eyeopeners.
But the movie is not compleet. the last part is missing.