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Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy


Crazy Diamond
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Any fans of it out there?

 

I've not read the novel, I generally don't read an awful lot, but I've watched the 80s television adaptation and whilst it can be difficult to follow in parts, I thought it was alright. Not having read the novel however, I can't tell if it's faithful to the plot or is an accurate portrayal of each character or how it was meant to be played out.

 

Gary Oldman is in the film that comes out in September and I can't make my mind up about it from the trailer - one thing that is obvious to me is that he's trying very hard to play Alec Guinness' George Smiley. The voice in particular...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aco15ScXCwA

 

I'll give it a go though when it comes out, other than the Rum Diary there isn't an awful lot film wise I'm looking forward to.

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Read and loved the Smiley books in the 70s/80s. From what I remember the TV series stuck pretty well to the book, with a few plot shortcuts.

 

Le Carre's books tend to be slow burners, so 6-part TV series work well. The film boasts an excellent cast and I'll go watch it, but I'm not sure if a two-hour film can convey all the subtleties of the story.

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Read and loved the Smiley books in the 70s/80s. From what I remember the TV series stuck pretty well to the book, with a few plot shortcuts.

 

Le Carre's books tend to be slow burners, so 6-part TV series work well. The film boasts an excellent cast and I'll go watch it, but I'm not sure if a two-hour film can convey all the subtleties of the story.

 

Yeah that occurred to me too, but it does look good at least, so I'll give it a go.

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never read the Tinker Tailor ... either, but I watched the 80s TV show when it came out - it was the TV highlight of the week when I was about 13. So I'll defo want to see this, although i share the concerns about fitting it all into 2 hours.

 

Read Le Carre's Spy Who Came In From The Cold on the strength of the series, brilliant book which captured the utter seediness/soullessness of the world they worked in - then saw the (B&W) film with Richard Burton and Claire Bloom - the black & white made it particularly atmospheric. I can thoroughly recommend both book and film.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just back from seeing it.

 

Make sure you have a comfortable seat, you'll be there for a while. Takes a good long time to get going - I'd say you need to do a bit of research before you go as well, because I've seen the TV adaptation and this still managed to confuse me. It's a very good film though, very good indeed.

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Any serious changes to the plot?

 

Nope, stays loyal to the book, but obviously scenes in the TV adaptation that were once half an hour long are now one or two minutes. There's also a christmas party scene which isn't in the book but it adds to it I think.

 

Oh and Guillem and Prideaux have one slight change.

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