TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY

In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, an ageing spy (Gary Oldman) is quietly brought out of retirement to expose a Soviet mole hiding within the ranks of the ‘Circus’, the highest echelon of MI6, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Under the deft direction of Swedish auteur Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), the big-screen adaptation of John le Carré’s acclaimed espionage novel firmly ensnares viewers in a tangled web of intrigue, whilst evoking the Cold War zeitgeist, especially the political uncertainty and disillusionment that pervaded the 1970s. Deliberately-paced and handsomely-shot, Alfredson’s period-thriller also boasts Alberto Iglesias’ beguiling, jazz-infused soundtrack and an Oscar-worthy performance from Oldman (The Dark Knight), who underscores his character’s mild-mannered veneer with perceptible shrewdness and resolve. Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Toby Jones and John Hurt round-out the top-notch ensemble cast. A stylish, sophisticated and suspenseful masterpiece. (JH) ****1/2