Accessibility Links
Skip to Main Content
Skip to Main Navigation
Skip to Footer
Magazine subscription offer
Holidays
Money
Newsletters
RT shop
RT Puzzles
Sign In
Register
Sign In
Register
Settings
Sign out
My account
On TV
On TV
Now
On TV
Tonight
Search
On TV
On TV
Now
On TV
Tonight
TV Guide
News
News
View all News
Drama
Entertainment
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Sport
Documentary
Film
On Demand
On Demand
View all On Demand
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Soaps
Soaps
View all Soaps
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks
Streaming
Streaming
View all Streaming
Disney+
Apple TV+
Britbox
Netflix
Amazon
NOW TV
Sky Box Sets
Film
Film
View all Film
Film news
Film picks
Sport
Radio
Mag Offer
Magazine subscription offer
Holidays
Money
Newsletters
RT shop
RT Puzzles
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tomas Alfredson
(2011)
122min
15 Certificate
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Email to a friend
Review
Our Score
by
Damon Wise
Admirers of the BBC's 1979 TV series might think it foolish to make a feature film of John le Carré's novel in the first place, let alone give it to Tomas Alfredson, the Swedish director of cult horror
Let the Right One In
. But this period thriller features great performances and terrific Cold War detail, as retired spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is brought back to the secret service after the death of a colleague (John Hurt), who claimed to have evidence of a deep-cover Russian agent. But who is it? On the page and on TV, such intrigue had time to smoulder, but in the course of two hours the plot points whizz past at a bewildering rate, pausing only for cryptic close-ups of the major suspects (Ciarán Hinds, Colin Firth, Toby Jones and David Dencik). The cast and set dressing are all first class, superbly capturing a weary point in recent British history, but there's a sketchiness to the characters that makes it hard to root for Smiley, let alone ponder the motives of the mysterious mole.
Summary
The deputy to the head of British intelligence is forced into retirement after an operation ends in disaster. He is later recruited by the government to return to duty and investigate the possibility of a Soviet mole in a high-ranking position in MI6. Cold War thriller based on John Le Carre's novel, with Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch and Roger Lloyd Pack.
Cast & Crew
George Smiley
Gary Oldman
Bill Haydon
Colin Firth
Peter Guillam
Benedict Cumberbatch
Jim Prideaux
Mark Strong
Percy Alleline
Toby Jones
Ricki Tarr
Tom Hardy
Control
John Hurt
Roy Bland
Ciaran Hinds
Esterhase
David Dencik
Connie Sachs
Kathy Burke
Mendel
Roger Lloyd Pack
Jerry Westerby
Stephen Graham
Oliver Lacon
Simon McBurney
Polyakov
Konstantin Khabensky
Ann Smiley
Katrina Vasilieva
Mackelvore
Christian McKay
Irina
Svetlana Khodchenkova
Tufty Thesinger
Philip Martin Brown
Director
Tomas Alfredson
see more
Other Information
Language:
English
Colour
Theatrical distributor:
Optimum Releasing
Guidance:
Violence, swearing, sex scenes.
Available on:
DVD and Blu-ray
Released on:
16 Sep 2011
Drama
Full Episode Guide
ADVERTISEMENT
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy author John le Carré has died, aged 89
The literary giant's spy novels were perfect stories for film and TV adaptations.
Best Tom Hardy movies ranked
How different was BBC1's The Night Manager to its original book?
Andrew Collins: the state of independents
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest News
What channel is Liverpool v Man Utd on? Kick off time, live stream and latest team news
0h ago
Will there be a season 2 of Bridgerton on Netflix? Here's everything we know
2h ago
What channel is Sheffield United v Tottenham on? Kick off time, live stream and latest team news
2h ago
The Walking Dead star releases first-look image from Here's Negan special
3h ago