Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Based on what many consider the greatest spy novel ever written is this stylishly produced thriller starring an all-star cast that would make any director drool.  It's good to see that the author of the book, John le Carre is involved and I must applaud the screenwriters (Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan) for compressing a great, complex story into two hours.  Still two hours is not really enough time and I felt many parts were rushed.  Tomas Alfredson, the Swedish director who gave us Let the Right One In, greats tension with subtext and frames every moment with a stark '70s lens.   Gary Oldman, who plays master spy George Smiley, has received an Oscar nomination for best actor for a performance that's as strained and exact like a razor blade.  Perhaps this great actor will finally receive the accolade he deserves.   In many ways this is a good film but I feel as a mystery it could have used more misdirection and development.   A better adaptation is probably the BBC mini-series starting Alec Guinness, but since that's not available this is the best we have.  Or just read the novel which is always the more recommended choice.  Grade: B+.