Colin Firth Interview (The Vine)

BY SADMAN ON FEB 14 2012, 09:00AM

 Words and interview by Dee Jefferson.


 In Venice for the premiere of Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based on the best-selling John le Carré spy thriller, Academy Award-winner Colin Firth talks about the film, the director, his relationship with Italy (where he lives sometimes, with his wife, Italian film producer/director Livia Giuggioli), and his relationship with his own acting work.

 In Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Firth plays Bill Hayden (nicknamed ‘Tailor’ for his sartorial affectations), one of four suspected moles at the top of the British Secret Service (aka The Circus). The ensemble cast includes British acting royalty Gary Oldman and John Hurt, and rising stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy.


How did you feel you were a good fit for playing this particular role? 
I didn’t actually, I thought it was a stretch – but it was fascinating for all sorts of reasons (some of which we can’t talk about because of how the film ends). You know, you can pick any of these characters in this story – or any of Le Carré’s books, really – and they’re a gift for actors, because he specialises in the layers, and the hidden layers, of people; their mixed motives and hidden motivations, that sort of thing. It’s what he writes about.

What separates it from things like Bond – which I love – is that they are about intrigue and style and danger and conflict, but they’re not really there to investigate motive (unless it’s, you know, to take over the world).

How do you see your character?
Bill Hayden is very vain; he has affectations. We don’t have much time to see his life … and it’s true of any of these characters, you can follow any of [them] and find a fantastic life. … Hayden is an artist, so one of his affectations is of the ‘bohemian’; and so although according to protocol he would go to work in his tie and suit, I wanted him to be a little [eccentric]. Artistic people I think are often very compatible with spying and espionage [because] it is a creative process, and you have to think in a manner which is not just linear or conventional. Hayden is an idealist and he’s artistic, he’s literate, he has an intellect and he paints – and I think that he has the pretensions to go with that; which is why I wanted him to wear red socks and suede shoes and a big coat. And I think that is a cultivated eccentricity.

How present was the previous television adaptation [a 1979 series starring Alec Guinness), when you were preparing for the role? 
It was present to anybody of my generation who grew up in England, because that series had a huge presence. Even if you didn’t watch it, it had a presence, because it was endlessly talked and written about, and loved, and commented on – and if you weren’t watching it, your dad was or someone at school was. So it does cast a long shadow – but [on the other hand] it’s also 30 years ago – that’s a generation, and a lot of people who watched it are dead; we’re a long way from it now. … To think of a time when I was alive as a period movie is a bit strange!


Read more of the interview:  http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/interviews/colin-firth-_-interview20120214.aspx

Awards Box Office: 'Tinker Tailor' Shakes Off Golden Globe, SAG Snubs (The Hollywood Reporter)

2:28 PM PST 12/18/2011 by Pamela McClintock        

           

Focus Features

The Cold War espionage pic does strong business in its second weekend; awards darling "The Artist" holds steady.

Gary Oldman starrer Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy did brisk business in its second weekend of play at the domestic box office, scoring the top location average of any specialty movie even though it was shut out of Golden Globe nominations.

The British film, produced by Working Title and distributed by Focus Features in the U.S., grossed an estimated $452,278 as it upped its theater count from four to 16 for a location average of $28,267 and cume of $851,870.

Moviegoers didn't seem to care that the critically acclaimed Tinker Tailor was shut out of Golden Globe and SAG nominations last week, even though Oldman's performance is considered awards worthy by reviewers.

This weekend,Tinker Tailor--also starring Colin Firth and Tom Hardy--did nicely in new markets, as well as staying strong in carryover markets New York and Los Angeles.

It ranked No. 1 at the Landmark in West L.A., grossing $19,956. That was good enough to edge out Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ($19,422), awards darling The Artist ($14,856), Young Adult ($13,118) and the debut of Roman Polanski's Carnage ($11,373).

Tinker Tailor also came in No. 1 at the AMC Village 7 in New York and on Saturday took in a stellar $15,000 at the Bethesda Row in Washington, D.C., a new market.

According to Focus, Tinker Tailor set a new record for a film opening in four theaters, then expanding to between 16 and 18 in its second weekend. The movie's location average of $28,267 surpassed the benchmark previously set by Sideways ($25,288).

The Artist, which swept Golden Globe nominations, as well as scoring top SAG noms, held relatively steady this weekend at 17 locations, grossing an estimated $286,879 for a location average of $16,875 and cume of $1.3 million in its fourth weekend. The Weinstein Co. will expand the film's location count on Dec. 23 in a push for holiday moviegoers.

Martin Scorsese's awards frontrunner Hugo wasn't helped substantially by top Globe nominations, falling roughly 37 percent to an estimated $3.6 million for a cume of $39 million in its fourth weekend. Paramount is distributing the film on behalf of GK Films.

Fox Searchlight's The Descendants, another Globe and SAG frontrunner, fell 24 percent over the weekend to an estimated $3.4 million for a cume of $28.7 million, the best showing of the year for a specialty release after Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris.

Sony Pictures Classics' awards contender Carnage opened to an estimated $85,696 from five theaters for a location average of $17,139.


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/awards-box-office-tinker-tailor-sag-golden-globes-275105

Talking 'Tinker Tailor' with Oldman and Firth

By Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY

"He insists that you call him Lord Sir," reveals Firth's current co-star Gary Oldman as he waits for the actor to arrive for a joint interview.

With script-worthy timing, Firth swoops into the small Scandinavian restaurant where the actors are meeting. "Sorry to be so late. I don't know why I am. Anyway, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting? Don't want to spoil your evening," says the dashing, gregarious Firth.

Oldman, whose outward reserve belies a sly and quick wit, informs Firth of what's on the menu, given the venue. "I took the liberty of ordering you some Swedish meatballs."

Firth looks a bit dismayed, albeit comically so. "Would Sir like some Swedish meatballs?" he gently corrects Oldman.

By Jack English, Focus Features

Oscar buzz is swirling around Gary Oldman, who plays George Smiley, a onetime British intelligence agent brought back to stop a top-tier leak.

Their relationship is more nuanced, and fraught, in the Cold War thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based on John le Carré's classic novel and opening Friday. Oldman, 53, carries the film as the inscrutable, invisible yet lethal George Smiley, a seemingly washed-up agent brought back to plug the leak in the top tier of British intelligence. Firth, 51, smolders on the sidelines as Smiley's colleague Bill Haydon, one of the men suspected of being the mole selling information to the Russians.

The film is the anti-Bourne and anti-Bond: It's cerebral, minimalist and atmospheric, with no seductive women, sleek cars or high-tech weaponry. Oldman's enigmatic Smiley spends the first portion of the film slogging through life, without uttering a word.

"When (his wife) describes him as almost a reptile who can regulate his body temperature, that helped me with the stillness," says Oldman of playing Smiley. "I think this film is like watching a lava lamp. The pace of the movie, it packs a lot in, and you never feel that it's rushed."

If Smiley is a cool, clear vodka tonic, then Haydon is a Kir Royal: flashy, sparkling and loud.

"I think Haydon and Smiley are fairly opposite. Haydon is someone who, as a character, works at his character. Haydon is flamboyant and self-conscious. Smiley has a lot more integrity than that. Part of his strategy in life, and what he does, is to disappear," says Firth. "Haydon wants to be seen. He wears red socks. He thinks he's Lawrence of Arabia."

By Jack English, Focus Features

Colin Firth plays Bill Haydon, a colleague of George Smiley's who is suspected of being a mole.

Tinker represents Oldman's first lead role in years, following notable supporting turns in Christopher Nolan's Batman films, as upstanding cop Jim Gordon, and as Harry Potter's wise godfather Sirius Black in the blockbuster films. And after a critically acclaimed September premiere in Venice, Tinker has ushered in Oscar talk for Oldman, who has never been nominated despite memorable performances as volatile bassist Sid Vicious in 1986's Sid and Nancy and an oily politician in 2000's The Contender.

Oldman's quietly deadly portrayal of Smiley, says Firth, "is the best performance I've seen in years — not just from him, but from anyone."

Connecting the Firth/Oldman dots

Despite their somewhat parallel careers in British film and theater, Firth and Oldman didn't know each other before shooting Tinker. And their paths had crossed professionally only once, during production of 2009's animated holiday flick A Christmas Carol. Oldman was Cratchit to Firth's Fred.

"We were animated together," says Oldman, turning to Firth. "We were wearing silly suits covered in ping-pong balls. You were actually having dots put on your face when we met. I was sitting in the chair and you were being made up with the dots.

Despite Oldman's ability to play piercing, scary men on screen, in person he comes across as a softie — at least where his three kids are concerned. He has spent the past decade mostly raising his sons Gulliver, 14, and Charlie, 12, from his third marriage to Donya Fiorentino. After their split in 2001, Oldman got sole custody of the boys; he has another son, Alfie, 23, from his first marriage to British actress Lesley Manville.

He gets emotional when talking about his brood and how well they turned out, knocking on a wood chair for added luck. "Makes me all upset, thinking about when they were little like that and their arm comes around and hugs you. It's killer, isn't it?" says Oldman. "I know we're here to talk about the movie, but my greatest accomplishment is Charlie and Gulliver. So you've played a couple of good parts, you know what I mean? Having a kid is like having your heart outside of your body."

Firth, of course, won an Academy Award for playing stuttering King George in The King's Speech. Lest he focus too much on that, his sons, Luca, 10, and Matteo, 8, keep his royally raging ego in check. "I was on the 100 most influential list earlier this year and my 10-year-old said, 'You're not even the most influential person in this house,' " says Firth, who lives in England with wife Livia Giuggioli. "He is right. I come pretty far down on the list in terms of influence in the family. He's higher than I am."

Oldman starts laughing. "That's witty. That's funny."

Has the Oscar changed Firth's life? He thinks a moment, and jokes that aside from bringing the statuette to every movie set, to be widely admired by his co-stars, it's business as usual.

"I get more phone messages. That's about it, really. Whatever else you may be asked to do, you can't do all of it," says Firth. "You choose the people around you for what you're looking for in certain ways. My wife doesn't take any crap. We go back quite a ways now. None of my friends take me particularly seriously. My life is founded fairly solidly in what I have outside this profession. You come back quite dizzy from awards season, and it's quite good to have something solid to come back to."

Can't escape all the Oscar buzz

Given the feverish intensity of awards season prognostication, the hype is nearly impossible to shut out. Oldman says he has been hearing positive feedback about his performance in Tinker. "I get the odd e-mail that says, 'Oh, read this.' The response to the movie has been terrific," he says, turning to Firth. "Did you get that, when they talk about Oscar buzz?"

Replies Firth: "Yeah. But it's very dangerous because it can evaporate. Trying to have a sense of humor about it is critical."

Believe it or not, says Firth, it really is more fun to just be nominated, which he was back-to-back for playing a suicidal gay professor in 2009's A Single Man followed by his lauded turn in Speech.

"The first time around, it was only a privilege and a joy. It was my first-ever nomination. Already it looked like it was going elsewhere, which took the pressure off immensely," says Firth, referring to Jeff Bridges, 2009 winner for Crazy Heart. "My expectations were so innocent in a way. There was no pressure to see if you could get out there and push out another couple of chat shows. I enjoyed it and had a bit of a celebration at home when the nomination came in. Anything else was gravy. I went to the ceremony knowing I could have a drink and not make a speech."

Firth wants to make it clear that he's absolutely appreciative of his win. Still, he wasn't immune to Oscar madness. "If you do get front-runner status, it starts to feel like you can only lose. I ran into one of the Coen brothers just before the Oscars and he said, 'You're where Jeff was last year.' "

Oldman is curious. "Where were you in the polls at the time?"

Firth: "Up there. I didn't read polls. But you can't help it. Changing day by day."

Oldman: "You'll always hear stuff. In the old days, before we had the Internet, someone was always ready to call you up and go, 'Oh, the review in The Guardian wasn't so good.' They would let you know."

The key, says Firth, is "to keep a wry view of it all."

Oldman has a tongue-in-cheek coping mechanism that's very Hollywood: "I think Zen Buddhism will help me through this. My healer will come. No, that's interesting. I've not even had this conversation with (Firth). It's something you just don't talk about. You go, 'Congrats.' "

Almost a year later, it has finally sunk in that Firth is part of the winners' circle in Hollywood. "It's getting to me now. That was me it happened to," he says.

But whichever way the awards season winds blow, Oldman already has earned the respect of his sons and their friends. "I'm the voice of Reznov in the Call of Duty video game. That's where my fame is.

"Comrades!" he says, mimicking the rat-tat-tat sound of machine guns. "I've done three. Kids come up to me at school and go, 'Are you the guy in Call of Duty?' What about (the) Batman (movies)? Harry Potter? No. I'm useless."

USA Today

Most anticipated holiday films

By: Kevin Romani | November 30, 2011 | ShareThis

Courtesy of MCT

For the first time in recent years, this year’s holiday movie season may end up offering more high quality films than those released during the summer.

This winter, both major franchise and independent films will be competing against each other in the last month of 2011. December is the month that typically sees the most Oscar contenders released, as studios want their films to be fresh on the minds of the Academy Award voters for the final stretch of the year. 

Several major filmmakers have pictures coming out this winter, most notably Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Steven Spielberg. Scorsese’s family film “Hugo” is already in theaters, and has received favorable reception from critics. Spielberg has not one, but two films coming out around Christmas.
Here are five films that should be well worth a trip to the theater for this winter.

The Adventures of Tintin

Spielberg’s first directed film to be released this winter is “The Adventures of Tintin,” which will be released on Dec. 21. After Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” hit theaters in 1981, a critic compared the film to the European “Tintin” comic strips. Spielberg’s work has come full circle, as early reviews for “Tintin” are calling it Spielberg’s most exciting film since “Raiders.”

“The Adventures of Tintin” is a major collaboration between Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). The film follows the young titular reporter Tintin and his globe-trotting adventure in search of a lost treasure. “Tintin” is Spielberg’s first directed animated film, as it was filmed using motion capture and has an animated style akin to “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf.” Spielberg and Jackson foresee this as the first film in a trilogy, where Jackson would direct the second and the third as a possible co-direction between the two masterful filmmakers. “Tintin” should offer relentless action that will be sheer entertainment for all ages.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A Swedish adaptation of the “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was made in 2009, and was considered a success from loyal fans of the best-selling novel. Producer Scott Rudin was smart enough to know there could still be a major market for an American remake, and brought on the brilliant David Fincher (“Fight Club,” “The Social Network”) to direct.

The trailers for “Dragon Tattoo” have been loud, fast paced and visually arresting. Fincher is one of the best active directors in creating an uncomfortable mood for a film, and it certainly appears he has done it again with “Dragon Tattoo.” The tagline “The feel bad movie of Christmas” says everything potential audience members need to know – the film will be violent and disturbing, but will be one heck of a ride. “Dragon Tattoo” will be released on the same day as “Tintin,” Dec. 21.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

The first two installments of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise were perfect examples of style over substance. Both films were sporadic and filled with over-the-top action without a sense of story.

“Mission: Impossible III,” however, took a different approach than the first two films. Director J.J. Abrams (“Lost,” “Star Trek”) firmly believes that a film or television series is nothing without strong characters. He made the third film more about these interesting characters than about the gadgetry and explosions. While Abrams is not directing the fourth installment, “Ghost Protocol,” he supervised over the script writing process and remained on as an executive producer.

Brad Bird (“The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille”) is making his live-action directorial debut with “Ghost Protocol.” Like Abrams, Bird likes to focus his stories on the characters. His animated features were outstanding technical feats, but are most memorable due to their emotional impact and intelligent narratives. The look and cast of this new film are both impressive, and “Ghost Protocol” has a good chance of being the action hit of the winter. “Ghost Protocol” gets a theatrical release on Dec. 21 as well, but can be seen on IMAX screens on Dec. 16. Those who see the film in IMAX will be privileged with the special treat of seeing the opening sequence to next summer’s highly anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The British production “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” may be a key player at the Oscars this year, like “The King’s Speech” in 2010. Adapted from the novel by the same name, the film version looks to be an intense political thriller akin to Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation.” With an outstanding cast led by Gary Oldman, Oscar-winner Colin Firth, John Hurt and Tom Hardy, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” will be sure to feature memorable performances. Based on the novel, the film will likely be a thought-provoking story that will reflect contemporary political issues. “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” will arrive to theaters on Dec. 9.

War Horse

Steven Spielberg has used the phrase “one for them and one for me” in years where he has directed two films. He first accomplished this feat in 1993 with the release of “Jurassic Park” and “Schindler’s List.” “Jurassic Park” wowed audiences and was a blockbuster smash, while “Schindler’s List” represented the maturity in Spielberg as a filmmaker as he offered one of the most impressive cinematic feats in history with the harrowing tale set during the Holocaust. The “one for them” is a crowd pleaser and the “one for me” is a film Spielberg has a deep personal connection with that he wishes to present on screen.

“The Adventures of Tintin” is the 2011 version of the “one for them” and “War Horse” is the one for Spielberg. Set in the backdrop of World War I, “War Horse” follows a young boy and his horse as they survive in the war torn European theater. The cinematography of this film seen in the trailers looks beautiful, with wide shots of the European landscape and the countless soldiers spread throughout. “War Horse” can be seen on the big screen beginning on Christmas day.

Massachusetts daily collegian
Kevin Romani can be reached at kromani@student.umass.edu.

YET ANOTHER TOP TEN LIST - Top 10 Best British Actors

 

by The_Lord_ZXV created 1 week ago | last updated - 1 week ago

Showing all 10 People

Sort by: List orderNameHeightDate of birthSTARMeterDate added

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1.

Gary Oldman

Actor, The Dark Knight

Gary Oldman, the son of a welder and a homemaker, won a scholarship to Britain's Rose Bruford Drama College, where he received a B.A. in theatre arts in 1979. He subsequently studied with the Greenwich Young People's Theatre and went on to appear in a number of plays throughout the early '80s, including...

2.

Jeremy Irons

Actor, The Lion King

Although the son of a tax consultant, young Jeremy didn't prove very fond of figures. A typical islander, he used to go to England only once a year. He wound up being grounded when his family settled down in Hertfordshire. At the age of 13 he enrolled in Sherborne School, Dorset, where he was very happy as he could practise his favorite sport...

3.

Michael Caine

Actor, The Dark Knight

Born Maurice Micklewhite in London, Michael Caine was the son of a fish-market porter and a charlady. He left school at 15 and took a series of working-class jobs before joining the British army and serving in Korea during the Korean War, where he saw combat. Upon his return to England he gravitated toward the theater and got a job as an assistant stage manager...

4.

John Hurt

Actor, V for Vendetta

Britain's superbly eccentric import John Hurt is a perfect example of how huge, wondrous gifts can come in small, unadorned packages. His magnetic, often bedeviled portraits have touched the souls of film-goers internationally for over four decades, and there seems to be no end to the depth of this man's talent...

5.

Peter Cushing

Actor, Star Wars

Peter Cushing was born in 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, England. He and his older brother David were raised first in Dulwich Village, a south London suburb, and then later back in Surrey by his mother Nellie Marie and father George Edward, who was a quantity surveyor. At an early age Cushing was attracted to acting...

6.

Sean Bean

Actor, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Sean Bean, England's most versatile actor, holds a stellar career spanning every medium for approximately 20 years, in theater, radio, television and movies. This soulful, green-eyed blonde's roles are so varied that his magnetic persona convincing plays angst-ridden villians, as in "Clarissa," passionate...

7.

Paul Bettany

Actor, A Beautiful Mind

Paul Bettany was born into a theatre family. His father, Thane Bettany, is still an actor but his mother, Anne Kettle, has retired from acting. He has an older sister who is a writer and a mother. His maternal grandmother, Olga Gwynne (her maiden and stage name), was a successful actress, while his maternal grandfather...

8.

Jeremy Brett

Actor, My Fair Lady

9.

Ben Kingsley

Actor, Schindler's List

Ben Kingsley was born in England. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, was of Gujrati descent. Ben began to act in stage plays during the 1960s. He soon became a successful stage actor, and also began to have roles in films and TV. His birth name was Krishna Bhanji - but he changed his name to 'Ben Kingsley' soon after gaining fame as a stage actor...

10.

Alec Guinness

Actor, Star Wars

While working in advertising, he studied at the Fay Compton Studio of Dramatic Art, debuting on stage in 1934 and played classic theater with the Old Vic from 1936. In 1941, he entered the Royal navy as a seaman and was commissioned the next year. Beyond an extra part in Evensong, his film career began after World War II with his portrayal of Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations...

IMDb

Colin Firth: New Clip and Pictures from 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'

One of the most anticipated films left this year

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Friday, November 18th 2011 at 4:10 PM

Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Photo: Focus Features

Focus is opening up the flood gates when it comes to their adaptation of John le Carre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as I have just received 38 new pictures from the film along with a clip thanks to IMDb featuring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth.

Directed by Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is set in the 1970s and George Smiley (Oldman), a recently retired MI6 agent, is doing his best to adjust to a life outside the secret service. However, when a disgraced agent reappears with information concerning a mole at the heart of the Circus, Smiley is drawn back into the murky field of espionage.

Along with Oldman and Firth, the cast is as impressive as the come with Tom Hardy, Mark Strong, Stephen Graham, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Ciaran Hinds and John Hurt joining the fray.

The film has already been released overseas where it has made over $21 million so far and will be hitting theaters on December 9 here in the States. It's one of the most anticipated films of the year (at least around these parts) and hopefully these new goodies get you even more excited.

You can watch the clip below or in high definition at IMDb and browse the gallery of 54 total images right here.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is directed by Tomas Alfredson. It will be released by Focus Features and will hit theaters on December 9, 2011.

Click any of the thumbnails to browse my gallery of 54 images

Rope of Silicon

Gary Oldman - Gary Oldman Perfected Spy Look During Visit To Firth's Spectacles Store

The spectacles Gary Oldman wears as secret agent George Smiley in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy come from the same Pasadena, California store where Colin Firth found his stylish frames for A Single Man.

Oldman admits he was taken by the glasses his co-star Firth wore as George Falconer in the 2009 Tom Ford film and made a mental note of where his fellow Brit had found them.

And when it came time to get into character to play John Le Carre's Mi6 spy, he tracked down the specialist store, Old Focals, to perfect his look.

Oldman tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "To Smiley, those glasses are as important as (James) Bond's martini."

But director Tomas Alfredson admits his leading man became a little obsessive about his character's spectacles.

He tells the publication, "At some point I decided I'm going to support whatever Gary picks so we can get these bloody glasses on his nose and start working."

Contact Music

Can ‘Tinker, Tailor’ Film Match Success of the 1979 Miniseries?

(I think Alec Guinness has the most beautiful voice in the world.  Listen to him on the second video.  Karen)

Anglophenia

By: Leah Rozen Posted: Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Alec Guinness in the 1979 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' miniseries

Remember when you were asked to compare and contrast two books for an English exam back in high school or college? Well, now you can do that in real life, if only for your own edification, with two versions of Tinker, Tailor, Sailor, Spy.

The eagerly anticipated new movie based on the 1974 Cold War spy novel by John le Carré opens in U.S. theaters on December 9. Starring a Who’s Who of big name British actors (Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, and more), the film opened last month in the UK to rapturous reviews and robust box office.

“You’ll feel your own synapses working at full tilt as you watch this intelligent, bracing, consummately achieved entertainment,” wrote movie critic Jonathan Romney in The Independent.
Those who want to get a jump on the movie can check out the BBC’s fondly remembered, 1979 mini-series of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. This seven-part version starred Alec Guinness in the lead role as bookish British Secret Service agent George Smiley (Oldman plays Smiley in the movie). It is being re-released on DVD next Tuesday (October 25) as a three-disc set.

In addition to Guinness, such stars as Ian Richardson, Patrick Stewart, and Michael Jayston (of Doctor Who, circa 1986) have major roles.

The miniseries, too, was greeted with critical hosannas when it first aired — PBS showed it stateside in 1980 — and has held up over time. “The BBC’s 1979 adaptation of John le Carré’s thriller is still unmatched in its evocation of the chilly, cynical cold war era,” Toby Manning wrote earlier this year in The Guardian.

BBC produced a follow-up, Smiley’s People, also based on a le Carré novel and again starring Guinness, in 1981.

There have been reports, but no official announcement, that a similar sequel to the latest film version of Tinker, Tailor may be in the works. When he was publicizing the movie for its British opening, Oldman said that he would jump at the chance to play George Smiley again, but only if Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In), the Swedish director of Tinker, Tailor, signed on again for the follow-up.
—————————
Have you already seen the miniseries? What do you think… can the film version compare?
—————————
Trailer for new movie version:

Alec Guinness and Patrick Stewart in 1979 Tinker, Tailor miniseries:

Interview with Gary Oldman on the BBC’s The One Show, in which he calls Benedict Cumberbatch “a good lad”:

Interview with Colin Firth on SkyNews:

Benedict Cumberbatch in red carpet interview on whether he has ever spied in real life:

Follow Anglophenia on Twitter or Follow BBC America on Facebook

Tagged: Alec Guinness, Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

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TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sequel?

By Garth Franklin Monday September 26th 2011 02:18PM
Darkhorizons.com

The film adaptation of John Le Carre's classic Cold War spy novel "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" is already a success story.

The reviews out of the festivals have been raves, more regular critics have been giving it 4 & 5 star reviews, and the box-office is promising after a strong No. 1 opening in the UK the other week. I myself saw a sneak preview of it tonight and am certain it'll be on my 'best of the year' list, it's a superbly executed and quite loyal adaptation.

Now, The Guardian reports that the film's producer and financier Studio Canal is keen on making this their first franchise and are expected to make an announcement next week in Paris about development of a sequel.

Le Carre wrote eight books with the George Smiley character, played by Gary Oldman in the new film, including the likes of "Call for the Dead," "A Murder of Quality", "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and "The Looking Glass War".

'Tinker' however made Smiley a household name in the UK, and is also the first of what's dubbed 'The Karla Trilogy'. Smiley plays only a small role in the next book, the mostly South East-Asian set "The Honourable Schoolboy", which focuses on the Jerry Westerby minor character from 'Tinker' (played by Stephen Graham).

A likely scenario is that the filmmakers will do what the BBC did thirty years ago after the success of the 'Tinker' mini-series with Alec Guinness - they'll jump directly to adapting the third novel "Smiley's People", but may incorporate a couple of the key scenes from 'Schoolboy' which deals with the fallout of events in 'Tinker'.

In 'People', Smiley is called out from retirement for the last time to investigate the death of one of his old agents, a former Soviet General and the titular head of an Estonian émigré organizations based in London.

Smiley learns the General had discovered information which leads to a final confrontation with Smiley's nemesis, the Soviet spy-master Karla. Patrick Stewart played Karla in cameos in both mini-series. In the new 'Tinker' film he's referenced numerous times and is briefly seen but only from a distance with his face obscured.

Oldman says "I loved playing George, and there are of course films to be made of Le Carré's other books featuring George, with Smiley's People and The Honourable Schoolboy being the obvious ones. But I would insist on quite a few factors, such as I would really want Tomas Alfredson to direct it again."

Oldman also admitted last week to Empire that a film sequel would likely be an amalgamation of 'Schoolboy' and 'People' using the latter title.