Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: Double Play (2011) (2 Discs) (Blu-ray)

An extremely engrossing period set spy drama adaption of the famous book and mini-series which sets itself down as a smart, involving drama and fulfills that promise exceptionally well in the hands of director Tomas Alfredson.

In the middle of the Cold War, in a beautifully drab and washed out London (drab never having been more beautifully shot, I might add) George Smiley is brought back into British Intelligence to try and flush out a mole in the organisation. A mole who, if he truly exists, has penetrated the highest levels of the service. With a list of suspects comprising men he has worked with sometimes for years, and a group of allies................Smiley slowly and methodically must try to detect who that person is.

The film itself is one of those pleasing films where, whilst it shouldn't be too complex to follow, also is filled with moments that you must catch at the time. It requires only patience and attention to be paid to it, and what emerges is a satisfyingly involved piece of cinema. Director Alfredson deftly shades the lives of all the main characters as the mystery envelops you, using an effective flashback structure to develop story.

Performances across the board are excellent, and with a cast like it has, that's no surprise. Gary Oldman is impressive in his work, keeping almost everything internal to his character, a man who spends more of his life watching and thinking rather than talking. But the entire cast also works. The period detail also looks bang on and the quality of everything in the film emerges from every scene.

A thoroughly involving, exceptionally made film.

Whilst this movie contains bags of edge and atmosphere, and the cream of British actors, I felt a little underwhelmed. The story is good but there is a distinct lack of energy, and, although this may be the point, I felt it didn't tip the scales on the entertainment front. Quite a hard watch too, as you feel like you will miss something if you blink! Good, but not what I expected given the surrounding hype.

Astounding. Period drama with real teeth and depth. Oldman, Cumberbatch, Strong and Toby Jones are wonderful. Disappointed with Firth for first time in ages. Upstaged in TTSS by stronger actors. If you like slow-burning spy dramas - akin to The Good Shepherd - then this will be right up your street.

people who say this is a spy story for grown ups are just pretencious people who look down on others. this is boring.no, i really mean boring!!! ok,the acting maybe excellent, but an hour in,i was losing the will to live. a classic case of overhype.

A twisting, turning Cold War set thriller. This cloak and dagger story focuses on a British intelligence expert tasked with sniffing out a suspected mole operating in the upper echelon of the queens spy service. Based on the novel by John le Carre, director Tomas Alfredson proves to be a practiced hand at establishing atmosphere, leaning on a filmmaking style that is visually interesting without being distractingly flashy. A fantastic cast including Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Cathy Bates and Benedict Cumberbatch. At the centre of the story is George Smiley a mild mannered but sharp intelligence expert solving his cases with brains not bravado.

Smiley is called out of retirement to track down a Russian double agent suspected of operating within the British Secret Intelligence Service. The former head narrowed his list of suspects down to five and its up to Smiley to finish what his old boss started. Filled with flashbacks, flash forwards and intriguing characters the story bounces and bumps along in unwieldy fashion but all pieces fall into place by the third act. Overall its a richly produced film and one that features a talented, top notch cast but there is a fine line separating complex from convoluted.