Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman

For a slight change of pace, we decided to review Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It is rated R for violence, language, and some brief sex and nudity. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor.

Mark-
I went into this movie with really high expectations, despite not really knowing much about it.  Unfortunately my lack of background concerning this film is what deterred me from enjoying it more than I did. I’ve never read the book or seen the mini-series concerning this story, which having done would provide a much greater understanding of how this movie ultimately comes together.

The general plot of this film revolves around the British Intelligence during the Cold War. When an operation in Budapest goes wrong, the head of the operation team (Control), along with a senior member (Smiley) are forced to resign. When Smiley is approached a short time later by a rogue agent, he is informed that the true operative of the Budapest mission was to discover if there was a mole within the British Intelligence. Smiley agrees to explore and investigate the situation, working to determine which of four remaining senior agents may be the Russian mole.

There is no doubt that the acting in this film is unbelievable.  While Gary Oldman has received the majority of the notoriety for his portrayal as Smiley, the film would not be the same without its huge contributions of the supporting cast.  I expected a much bigger role from Colin Firth, but the real gems of the supporting cast for me were John Hurt, Toby Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, and Tom Hardy.

The unfortunate downfall for this film is that it was incredibly confusing.  There are a lot of inferences made about different situations and characters in the film, but there is little to no actual finality to the inferences. Sadly, I don’t feel that rewatching the film would provide any more answers, but instead the only way to really know what the inferences mean would be to read the novel, or possibly watch the mini-series from the 1970s.

I love a good spy movie, and especially love twists and turns, but the confusion of the plot was just a little too much for me. I still really enjoyed the performances of the cast, but they weren’t enough to help me enjoy the film more than I did.  3 ½ *’s out of 5.

MY RANDOM THOUGH FOR TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY: I don’t think that I’ve been as excited about the possibilities of an actors career as I am for Tom Hardy right now. I’m really hoping that he gets, and takes, the opportunity to have more roles like he did in this film, and not end up being known simply as a tough guy action star. It’s crazy how much he reminds me of Russell Crowe.

Dan-
Let me begin by saying that this movie seems like it would be the most accurate portrayal of espionage from the Cold War era ever shown in movies. There are no unbelievable action sequences like you would see in a James Bond or Jason Bourne movie and no fancy gadgets either. All of the action and intrigue is cerebral and internal because I never knew who to trust. And while it is to be commended for being grounded in realism,  it unfortunately did not make a great movie. The source material is a much beloved novel (unread by me) which was previously adapted into a successful BBC miniseries from the 1970s (unseen by me) starring the original Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, Alec Guinness, I hoped for good things. But sadly, my expectations did not meet the reality of the movie.

The plot of finding a Russian mole working inside British Intelligence in the midst of the Cold War made it sound intriguing, and the cast seemed like it couldn't miss. Unfortunately, the script just couldn't get into the unspoken details that surely were in the source material. There just isn't enough time in a two, or even three, hour movie to explain more. When the identity of the mole is ultimately revealed (don't worry I won't spoil it!) the problem for me was that while I wanted to know, it didn't quite have the impact that I thought it should have. Too much was left unsaid, too many details went unexplained, and too many questions were left unanswered. It perhaps requires multiple viewings to flesh out the characters a little better and catch details that went unnoticed the first time, not to mention trying to keep all the characters straight as there were so many that are involved.

It was a little difficult to jump right in to this story considering that the structure of the movie did not seem to flow for me, not to mention that there isn't much dialogue in the first 20 minutes of the movie either. A large portion of the story is told in flashback and the times when the scenes switched back and forth didn't work and were confusing. It became difficult to remember everyone's names and whether or not I had seen them in the flashback or the present, and what significance they held. There were several shots of characters staring at pictures as well as lingering camera shots of the faces of them as if I was supposed to be reading the mind of who was on screen at the moment. It also seemed like there was a homosexual subtext happening with a few of the male characters. Now I admit that I could be completely wrong about that aspect, but I doubt it.

Much is to be said about the strength of the cast, which made this movie very watchable so that I wanted to know what happened with all of them. Gary Oldman as George Smiley was nominated for Best Actor, but I found the other supporting characters more compelling, particularly Benedict Cumberbatch (best name ever!) as Peter Guillam, Tom Hardy (Bane himself!) as Ricki Tarr, and Mark Strong as Jim Prideaux. These characters were easiest to identify with and credit goes also to the rest of the big-name cast for doing so much with so little screen time, particularly Colin Firth, who has such an engaging screen presence in everything he does.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars, which seems high considering how much I didn't like it. The performances elevated this movie, but I couldn't figure out for the life of me the 'why' of it all at the end. I realize that some people enjoy this type of plot structure and screenplay because it is open to endless interpretation by the audience. And while this may work for a film studies class it did not work on an entertainment level.

Nerd Note: Of all the memorable characters that Gary Oldman has played, this movie resulted in his first Oscar nomination! This is the same guy that was Commissioner Gordon in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Sirius Black in the Harry Potter movies, as well as pure evil embodied as Stansfield in Leon: The Professional. He also has an amazing voice talent to further disappear into his roles and as a result I did not know he was British until after I saw an interview with him before he showed up in the Harry Potter movies. I don't think I've ever seen him look or act the same in any two movies that weren't part of a series. He is truly an original actor.

The Boys Are Back (2009)

Nicholas McAnulty and Clive Owen

To prove that we are a couple of sensitive guys in touch with our feelings, we watched The Boys Are Back starring Clive Owen. It is rated PG-13 for some dirty/foul language "thematic elements", which is loosely interpreted as emotions created and aimed toward grown-ups instead of children.

Mark -
This is a difficult review for me to write simply because the best way that I can describe my feelings for the movie would be indifferent. I can’t think of any other movie I’ve seen where I simply felt that the movie was neither good or bad, but that it simply just is.

The film tells the story of successful sports writer who suddenly finds himself looking for answers after the loss of his second wife to cancer. The main character Joe (Clive Owen) decides the best approach to his own life and the role of raising his six year old son, Artie, is simply to answer yes. Joe’s life becomes even more complicated as it shows his relationship with his older son, Harry, from his first marriage. The film goes on to portray the difficulties of a father and his sons in dealing with different types of losses, and learning to move forward with each others help.

For me the most compelling character of this film was Harry. Although he has the smallest role of "the boys", his character is the one that adds some depth and perception into the struggles that exists between all of their lives. It is very clear that Joe cares about his sons, but he is so lost inside of himself that it feels as if he isn’t genuinely interacting with the other characters at times. Artie is six, and thus a six year old does what a six year old does.

For those who enjoy happy ending, you will enjoy this movie. I didn’t have any real expectations for this film, but if you are going to have any, they shouldn’t be more than to simply expect a feel good film. 2 ½ out of 5 *’s.

My Random Thought For The Boys Are Back: The more I think about it, I’m convinced that Artie must have been a hellion even when his mother was alive, and that his behavior was not limited to Joe’s parenting alone.

Dan -
Here is another movie that you probably missed, let alone may not have even heard of, until now. I was optimistic going into this because I enjoy a good drama that tugs at the old heartstrings from time to time. This movie made me think about getting choked up at least twice. I don't think I actually cried, but maybe one of my eyes welled up. But don't tell Mark. I was discreet and any possibility of a tear was shed out of the corner of my eye farthest from my co-critic. After all, I do have some credibility to uphold around him (however little it may be).

I knew what this movie was about going into it (widower tries to raise children on his own), and wasn't sure how much I would like it. A little background on myself seems appropriate here. My own mother passed away from cancer when I was a young teenager, so I know what it's like to lose a parent and how confusing and frustrating it is trying to deal with and understand the emotions that go with that. I am also now the father of two boys, so seeing this solidified even further that I never want to be in a situation even remotely like that. So please, dear wife of mine, don't ever die on me! I count on you too much to fill in the (large) gaps I leave in our lives. Anyway, this movie seemed to hit a little closer to home now than when I first heard about it almost 2 years ago.

This becomes difficult to write because I kind of agree with Mark. This movie just is. There was no real plot to it. It is one of those "slice of life" movies where it shows people living their lives. Unfortunately these people are not very interesting. Sure, there are a couple of interesting events to try and mix things up, but overall nothing happens. The most compelling element of the movie was Clive Owen's relationship with his older son. His uneasiness of trying to make sense of a new situation brought back memories of my own childhood. Don't worry, I'm not getting all mushy and personal again. I only want to say that I felt like I could identify with him and some of the emotions he experienced.

The more I think about this movie, the more I don't like it as much as I did right after watching it. This was another of those movies where I may have liked it more had I watched it in one sitting. Taking breaks really tore me away from any emotion that was slowly building as the movie went on. I had to get back in the mindset each time I sat down to watch it (this one took 3 lunch breaks).

To its credit, and probably my favorite thing about this movie, were the conversations Joe has with his late wife. He imagines seeing her from time to time and talks with her. I likened it to seeing something that reminds me of a loved one that is lost. And then perhaps talking briefly with that person about what is going through my head. Just small moments that make sure you never truly forget that person.

I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. It probably would have received a higher rating had I watched it in one sitting, but then it wouldn't have appeared on this blog as a lunch movie.

The Hurricane (1999)

Denzel Washington as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter


At the end of 1999, "The Hurricane" was released starring Denzel Washington. It was a modest hit, but maybe you have never seen it. It is rated R for language and violence.

Dan-
I have been wanting to see this movie for a really long time, but have never taken the opportunity to see it. It finally made its way up the Netflix queue (after more than 2 years I think) and I finally got the chance to see it. As cliche as it sounds, this is one of Denzel's best performances. He was nominated for an Oscar for it, but lost to Kevin Spacey in "American Beauty" (how he won against Denzel AND Russell Crowe for The Insider is beyond me). I also think this was a better performance than his role in "Training Day", for which he actually did win the Oscar.

Back to the movie. This is "based on the true story" of boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter who, at the peak of his career, was framed for a murder he did not commit and imprisoned for more than 20 years. I use the true story term loosely because this is Hollywood, and naturally there will be some artistic license taken to create drama, conflict, and/or motivations. The movie implies that a single racist cop is the one responsible for all his troubles, which may have some truth to it, but there is likely a lot more to the story. While in prison, Carter writes a book about his life and wrongful conviction. There is also a black teenager named Lesra who is taken from a poor neighborhood in New Jersey to live with 3 white people in Toronto to be educated and given an opportunity he may not have otherwise had. Lesra reads Hurricane's book, shares it with his 3 educators, and they all take the cause to free the Hurricane from prison.

There were two things that sucked me in emotionally to the movie: 1- After Hurricane is sent to prison and refuses to wear the prison uniform he is sent to solitary confinement. There he has an argument with two versions of his personality, one that is weak and one that is strong. This became the point where Denzel's performance really started to shine. Prior to that the character is cocky and arrogant, and this begins to show the vulnerability of Hurricane. And 2- When he asks his wife to stop visiting him and walk away. "I'm dead. Just bury me." It's the emotion in his voice that resonates the most with me.

This is a strong legal drama of a movie. The bad point about real life and the good point of movies is that these appeals and court proceedings literally take years, but can be shown in much quicker so we as the audience continue to feel a sense of urgency. Even after Lesra meets Rubin Carter, the process takes years to get the final appeal heard in court. The movie tries emphasize that fact as there is one point where the attorneys that have been assigned to the case since the beginning of his appeals comment to Lesra's educators that many people have offered to help over the years, but due to the slow process and apparent lack of progress they felt they were making, abandoned the cause.

While I thought this movie was compelling and well-made, I think I loved Denzel's performance the most about this movie. There is a great line that Carter writes to Lesra: "Do not write me. Do not visit me. Find it in your hearts to not weaken me with your love." I'm fascinated by a man who wants to be so strong, but knows he will not appear as such if he gets close to anyone. He gains hope and loses it every time he goes to court.

I give this movie 4½ out of 5 stars.

Mark-
Sadly this movie seems as though it has been overlooked by many people. I don’t know what it is about movies about boxing or boxers, but they continually seem to be some of the best movies produced. My own wife is among those who hate boxing, yet she has admitted on numerous occasions how good movies such as Million Dollar Baby, and Cinderella Man were. I have to add The Fighter and The Hurricane to that list as great movies that have come out in the last 15 years focused in some way around boxing or boxers. This film portrays the personal and judicial struggles that Rubin "Hurricane" Carter endured, as well as a friendship developed between Carter and a young man named Lesra. Rubin Carter overcame many hardships and difficulties in his life to become a boxing champion, before being what eventually was determined a wrongful imprisonment for three murders. The theme of racial injustice is prevalent throughout this film as is the case in many of Denzel Washington’s movies, but these are also his greatest films and roles. When I think about the roles Denzel has played I think of the movies: Cry Freedom, Glory, Malcolm X, The Hurricane, and Training Day (only because he finally won his best actor Oscar for this movie). All of the above films and roles deal directly with racial differences, and you could of course add Remember The Titans and The Great Debaters to the list. Denzel Washington has been among my favorite actors for a long time, and this is in my opinion his best acting performance. Denzel became Rubin Carter for this film! The most obvious observation of this fact is the physical shape that Washington got into for this role. Although he has never been unfit in anyway, it is clear to see that he devoted himself to learning the skill of boxing, and getting for lack of a better word "ripped" for this role. Just as, if not more, impressive is the amount of emotional and psychological toil that Washington allowed himself to be subjected to. There are so many details of this movie that I could give, but I’m the type of person that would rather see the events for myself, rather than have someone tell me all about it. This is truly a great movie and was in my opinion much much much better than American Beauty which unfortunately won best picture the same year. ***** out of 5
My Random Thought For This Movie: Liev Schrieiber appears in this movie, and my random thought is that I’m beginning to wonder if he ever really ages. He has bulked up a little more than his earlier years, but with that exception I would claim that he still looks virtually the same.