Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Movie Review)

*Updated December 2025

There are so many spy films out there that in order to appreciate a new one it has to have an element very few offer. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has it, but not enough to entertain for more than an hour.

The movie does well in drawing in the audience with its retro look and mysterious scenes. However, its game of cat and mouse starts getting boring after the initial setup. The fine acting gives it appeal, as does the fact that it is based on a successful story. It originates from John le Carré and his famous book and 1970s TV miniseries.

Tomas Alfredson’s Cold War Vision

Le Carré gave director Tomas Alfredson his blessing to create his own version of this well-known story. He told him not to shoot the book or remake the miniseries since they already exist.

The story is about discovering a mole that has infiltrated the English Secret Intelligence Service. This secure inner circle is referred to as “the circus” during the Cold War in 1973. This was a period where the whole world was shaking with uncertainty. None trusted their own shadow, and the director did an excellent job setting the piece in that era.

The film could be easily mistaken for something produced in the seventies. The sepia colors, fashion, and environment all feel authentic to the period.

Gary Oldman as George Smiley

The story begins with a secret job done by Jim Prideaux, played by Mark Strong, which goes wrong. This incident puts George Smiley, played by Gary Oldman, into forced retirement. Smiley is soon pulled out of retirement to find a double agent working for the Soviets. He works off a list of five men the head of the Circus, known as “Control,” had pinned down.

These are all men Smiley has known most of his career. The list includes Percy Alleline, Bill Haydon, Roy Bland, Toby Esterhase, and Smiley himself. Smiley is the perfect spy because he blends in and is hard to notice. At the beginning of the film, he barely utters a word while observing his surroundings.

As the film develops, we see the beauty of Gary Oldman’s acting. He gets help from Ricki Tarr, played by Tom Hardy, and Peter Guillam, played by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Espionage and Flashbacks

Le Carré’s story was successful because the Cold War and espionage were relatable topics at the time. Hearing a real spy tell his stories was worth seeing for audiences.

The same can be said of this film because Oldman does an excellent job involving us. However, there are elements in the movie that confuse and bore the viewer. The technique of flashbacks is used a lot throughout the narration. While it works initially, the continuous back and forth on who might be the mole starts getting unappealing.

There is more than one interesting story tying the movie together. By the time we find out who the mole is, we no longer care about the information given to the other side. It is refreshing to see a movie involving spies that doesn’t rely on much action or gore. Unfortunately, many have become accustomed to a small dosage of either to enjoy a story.

This is a movie to watch on a lazy Sunday as long as you are feeling awake. You will need focus to follow all the twists and chatter to figure out who the mole is.

Look out for the favorite scene Oldman mentioned in our interview. He delivers a long monologue without the help of flashbacks, showcasing a fine piece of acting.

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