Flick of The Day: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

John Le Carre has long been the master of the kind of realistic portrayal of espionage that so lends itself to modern cinema. Le Carre's spies are far removed from the world of Fleming's James Bond. There is no glamour at the top of his portrayal of British Intelligence, no gadgets less girls. More liver spots, stomach ailments and a dark and oppressing guilt. Perhaps his best creation is George Smiley, the weary career spy with a thirst for the truth. Alec Guinness made this role his own in the excellent 1979 BBC television mini-series and it is a delight then to report that  the big screen version is a triumph. Today's flick of the day is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

The head of MI6, an aged John Hurt, codename Control sees threats everywhere but he also believes there is a mole at the top of the service, known as the Circus. He launches an operation to find the mole which ends in disaster and he is drummed out of the Circus along with his trusted Lieutenant, George Smiley, played by a mesmeric Gary Oldman. After a period in the wilderness, George is brought out of retirement by the government to investigate the mole after a rogue agent comes forward with information. There are 5 suspects named by Control according to a children's rhyme including Smiley himself as Beggarman. Tinker, Percy Alleline, a scheming Toby Jones. Tailor, Bill Haydon, a suave and charming Colin Firth. Soldier, Roy Bland, a brooding Ciaran Hinds and finally Poorman, the quiet emigre played by David Dencik. Smiley must tease through the facts to find the shocking truth about the mole with the help of reserved foot soldier Peter Guillam, played by a very strong Benedict Cumberbatch.

Directed by Swede Tomas Alfredson, who hit the big time with his 2008 film Let The Right One In, the film has the kind of depressed air so reminiscent of one of those Swedish detective novels with a grey sheen on every surface. It is the perfect portrayal of Britain in the 1970's, a time that is perhaps the darkest for the country in the modern era when unemployment soared and the country was bailed out by the IMF. This depressed air pervades the film and the Circus it portrays. Each of the leads seems to be carrying a great weight on their shoulders, none more so then the quiet and thoughtful Smiley. Oldman has largely created his own Smiley though there are times when it feels very similar to the great Alec Guinness performance. He is of course joined by a fantastic cast, perhaps the best male cast assembled since Glengarry Glen Ross.

Perhaps the best performance comes from Mark Strong, a fine actor most recently seen in The Guard. Here he portrays the betrayed and abused Jim Prideaux, a spy who gets left behind the iron curtain. A small enough role in terms of screen time, he creates a memorable character of the damaged Jim that will stay with you as the credits roll.

All in all, an enjoyable film that is if anything too short in its just over two hour running time. It doesn't leave enough time to develop characters in the same manner as the classic BBC series. That said, it's production values are so much higher then that series and it looks stunning at times. A very fine ending set to the tune of Julio Inglesias closes all the loops. A very fine effort indeed.

Flick of The Day: Fever Pitch

Before Colin Firth became the actor du jour in Hollywood with A Single Man and The Kings Speech, he was a jobbing British Thespian combining TV roles and theatre with the odd  feature thrown in for good measure including some fine work as the definitive Mr Darcy in Pride & Prejudice for the BBC and starred in today's film, Fever Pitch.

Fever Pitch

A very loose adaptation of Nick Hornby's best selling account of his life as an Arsenal fan. Hornby fictionalised his story into an account of Arsenal's 1989 title chasing season, creating the character of Paul Ashworth, ably played by Firth, a teacher at a North London comprehensive school. The film opens with the school year as a new teacher joins the staff, Sarah Hughes played by Ruth Gemmell. Initially appalled with Paul's obsession with all things Arsenal, they soon become an item. From extended flashbacks to Paul's childhood in the 60's and 70's, we begin to see the root of Paul's obsession. How his divorced father tried to use football as a means of making a connection with an increasingly disaffected Paul and how it gradually grew into the most important thing in his life above all else including his work and personal relationships. There are some fine supporting performances from the likes of Neil Pearson as Paul's dad and Mark Strong as Paul's best friend.

The film is different enough to the book to stand on its own feet and be judged accordingly. As such it is a fine account of the obsessiveness of football fans, capturing the raw spirit and passion of fandom. Firth is excellent, giving an understated performance. It is at its best in these scenes, including an excellent scene showing the madness of the terraces set to The Who's "Baba O'Reilly" climaxing in the Hillsborough disaster that in many ways changed football in England forever. 

All in all, this is an excellent film, funny, wise and true. It captures the nature of obsession, and is one of the best accounts of sport I've come across. It also has one of the great climaxes, with Paul and Sarah's relationship reaching a critical juncture as Arsenal are within touching distance of the title. In and ending so theatrical, you couldn't make it up, Arsenal must beat Liverpool 2 nil in the final game of the season to win the title. Its well worth a look if you get the chance.

Flick of The Day: The King's Speech

I was initially wary of seeing this film, even though it has been nominated for 12 Oscars, mainly because it struck me as another one of those film's which keep the British film industry alive, being as it is the sick man of European cinema. It ticks all the boxes of such a film. Historical? Check. The Royal Family? Check. Classically trained actors in all the major roles? Check. Its got Jacobi and Gambon!

However, I was drawn to see it, based on word of mouth regarding the performance of Colin Firth as King George VI, Bertie to his friends and the King of the title. In a deeply affecting performance, he manages to capture the fear and frustration of those with a speech impediment. Watching him struggle to simply form sentences is difficult, for is speech not one of the fundamental abilities that makes humans as we are?

When we eventually get to the root of Bertie's ailment, you can only come to the conclusion that he suffered a very terrible childhood. The kind you would not wish on anyone and that it made him the flawed adult he was.

In one scene, he finds peace in simply making model aeroplanes, something he was forbidden to do as a child.

Firth is the main reason to see this movie but he is not the only reason. As I've said, there are fine actors scattered throughout. Helena Bonham Carter has great fun with the role of Bertie's wife and Geoffrey Rush brings his natural charm to the role of the speech therapist. He believes quite deeply that a speech impediment is something that can be overcome. through his unorthodox methods.

The film is to my knowledge largely historically accurate, though the idea of Guy Pearce as Colin Firth's older brother is laughable. The only criticism that might be levelled at the film is the implication that appeasement was only practiced by Neville Chamberlain and Edward VIII. It was a widespread view, particularly in the Royal Family. Winston Churchill was very much the outsider.

All in all, I enjoyed this film, though I don't feel it will be remembered as one of the great achievement's in cinema but Colin Firth's performance stands alone as one of the finest of the year. I hope he wins.