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Monday, January 9. 2012

Tinker Tailor

Another movie comment from the weekend, this time the new Tinker Tailor. I don't advise seeing it.


Not because it is poorly-done, but because it is impossible to depict the plot and the subplots of this complex Cold War counterespionage story in 2 hours. Had I not read the book, and seen the BBC miniseries several times, I would not have understood this film at all.


The gold standard for Tinker Tailor is the 6 hour miniseries with Alec Guiness as Smiley. It's one of the best things ever produced for TV. Ever. Even so, following the plot is difficult if you haven't read Le Carre's book first.


Reagan's end of the Cold War was a great loss for fiction.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:03 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

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I watch very little television, and only have owned a television set for about seven years of the past twenty or more. I don't miss it because time is precious and much of television programming is a complete waste of time.

But I have to agree with you, I did see the BBC miniseries when it originally ran in the US, and it was outstanding. Alec Guiness WAS George Smiley, and George Smiley will always be Alec Guiness. One of the few times a really good book has been well served on the screen. I can't imagine the necessity of the new film, except to increase Le Carre's retirement funds.

Shame that Le Carre/Cornwell is such an America-hating twit these days.
#1 Seppo on 2012-01-09 20:08 (Reply)
I can't imagine any movie could top the Alec Guiness series on BBC. No one else can ever be George Smiley.
#2 The Biz of Life (Link) on 2012-01-09 22:11 (Reply)
Le Carre is anti-American.
His works are agitprop now.
#3 PacRim Jim (Link) on 2012-01-10 02:34 (Reply)
I was sad to lose Le Carre as a favorite author. His new books are unbearable. TTSS remains wonderful, though, and I had high hopes for the new movie. Well, I suppose I'll try it anyway, since I can't very well lose the plot after reading and watching it a zillion times.
#4 Texan99 (Link) on 2012-01-10 10:51 (Reply)
lecarre was always a vile socialist.

Think hard. What do socialists do. They lie.

After I woke up, I re-read all of his work. Every bit of it is anti west propaganda.

Every word he ever wrote was a lie or in furtherance of a lie.

Ptui, says I.
#5 Fred Z on 2012-01-11 16:18 (Reply)

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