Overview
In a world of espionage, trust is the most dangerous game.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Mild
- paranoid
- brooding
- austere
- quiet evening
- serious film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Tomas Alfredson's visually controlled, intelligent condensation of John le Carré's intricate espionage novel, especially its atmosphere, script, and ensemble performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Smiley investigates the Circus through files, interviews, aliases, and the competing operations of British Intelligence.
The film uses gray offices, shadowed rooms, and restrained compositions to sustain an atmosphere of suspicion and isolation.
Smiley must determine which senior intelligence figure is secretly serving Soviet interests.
Smiley and his colleagues conceal personal loyalties, desires, fears, and resentments behind professional codes.
Films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and why
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
shared cerebral espionage, institutional paranoia, morally compromised intelligence operatives, and measured suspense
The Conversation
shared Cold War setting, investigative mystery structure, bureaucratic intrigue, and subdued melancholic tone
The Lives of Others
shared dense political thriller plotting, mistrust within institutions, and morally gray protagonists
A Most Wanted Man
shared restrained spycraft, procedural investigation, and emotionally isolated central investigator
Movie Details
- Director
- Tomas Alfredson
- Release Date
- 2011-09-16
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (3016)
Cast
- Gary Oldman
- Colin Firth
- Tom Hardy
- John Hurt
- Toby Jones
- Mark Strong
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Ciarán Hinds
- David Dencik
- Kathy Burke
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy about?
- A taciturn intelligence veteran hunts a Soviet mole hidden among Britain's most trusted spies.
- What is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as dense.
- Is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as mild.
- What did critics think of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Critics broadly praised Tomas Alfredson's visually controlled, intelligent condensation of John le Carré's intricate espionage novel, especially its atmosphere, script, and ensemble performances.
- Which films are like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Conversation, The Lives of Others, and A Most Wanted Man.
- How long is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- In United States, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is available to rent or buy from Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
