I don't recall enjoying a film's art direction more in recent years: smoky back rooms, whisky decanters, rain sodden fields, dingy cafes, creaky old kitchens, shabby uniforms, old filing cabinets. It brings the world of Le Carre to life in many ways more than the script, which is more confusing than it needs to be - I know this wasn't the easiest story in the world to adapt, but surely they could have gotten more tension out of the final sequence, which is confusing rather than scary. Why not see Smiley's wife? Why not make it clearer Smiley was sacked over the Budapest fiasco?
Gary Oldman isn't that great as Smiley - he looks fantastic, but lacks the pain, the sense of history and loss. But the others around him are terrific - Colin Frith, Toby Jones, Kathy Burke (who makes me long for a sequel), Tom Hardy (adding some needed physical energy), Ciarin Hinds, Mark Strong, etc.
I liked the bit with Mark Strong mentoring a fat kid and encouraging him to join the world, and the Russian woman calmly reading the paper while Strong is being tortured, etc. Lots of lovely touches like that and it's a good movie you just wish it was amazing.
No comments:
Post a Comment