GamerTab
That was an excellent one.
Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
misslizw
Perhaps the greatest artwork of the 20th century!!
walters-323-826046
I won't repeat the glowing reviews of this series that have been repeated ad nauseam. I really enjoyed that most of the intricacies of the book were captured within the series. I loved the country scenes.But, my internal vision of how the story played out was very different to series. Firstly, my vision of the period is slightly later, and this was mostly reflected (I think)was in the speech patterns. The actors spoke towards the front of their mouths, using more formal language than I had envisioned. I know, its the same text. My theory is that I've never been used to that formal style of addressing colleagues, and that that was from a previous era or different culture, or both.The other aspect that struck me was how old and unhealthy they all looked! I'm not a of the American style of everyone being beautiful in film, but to see the major character of the Honourable Schoolboy looking so raddled. It freaked me.So in summary, a great series, but something I should be viewing more as a slice of history.
paulted
Quite possibly the greatest television drama of them all. There are no pyrotechnics or snappy dialogue. If you are watching for either, you will be disappointed. This is a very slow burning, gripping game of chess that enthrals from the start. Subtle and nuanced, with a plot that grabs you by the brain and never lets go. ALL of the performances are top notch, with Alec Guinness giving a superb performance as Smiley (the most unlikely hero of them all) and Beryl Reid, Ian Richardson, Hywel Bennett, Michael Jayston, and Alexander Knox also magnificent. Special mention must go to Ian Bannen as the haunted, patriotic Jim Prideaux who acts his socks off while his character loses so much as the plot unfolds. Nothing short of a masterpiece.
Prismark10
I re-watched this after two decades. I have never read the novel so I am not in a position to appraise the adaptation from book to screen.This was a prestige BBC adaptation and a lot of money was spent on getting Alec Guinness star as Smiley and some location set pieces. However once you get over such trappings the production values are still very much interior settings. Briefings in rooms and what not.Guinness is all stillness, lettings others to do the talking and revealing themselves a little too much. Just as Karla did the same to him some years ago. Only Nigel Stock manages to ruffle his feathers.This gives other actors such as Hywel Bennett, Ian Richardson, Joss Ackland, Beryl Reid a chance to shine whilst Guinness looks on.The drama demands concentration from the viewer, it is dense, a lot of chatter regarding the world of spooks. The Circus does look a lot like the old public school network. Whereas even in those days the secret service had enough of the shifters and drifters as shown in other spy novels.Hywel Bennett as Ricki Tarr, Michael Jayston as Peter Guillam and Ian Bannen as Jim Prideaux shows how dangerous, mean and ruthless such spies can be. Tarr has told so many lies that the truth is so hard to tell without adding some shade.At the Circus Ian Richardson punctures the pompous atmosphere as he displays undercurrents of rebellion. Patrick Stewart makes a silent cameo and right at the end Mrs Smiley makes an appearance, a person we hear so much about throughout the series.
