Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gary Oldman)

Gary Oldman stars in Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of John Le Carré’s classic Cold War spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy about a British intelligence officer who comes out of retirement to track down a Russian operative working within MI6.

Following the capture of a British agent in Communist Hungary, veteran spy George Smiley (Oldman) is forced out of his job. However, after a field agent (Tom Hardy) raises suspicions that there’s a mole at the top of the chain of command, he is secretly called upon by the government to investigate. He enlists the help of trusted confidant Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), and sets about trying to find out if the allegation is true – and if it is, which of his former colleagues is the defector.

The film received Oscar nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and for Oldman as Best Actor. It also won two Bafta Awards, including Best British Film.

production details
UK | StudioCanal – Karla Films – Paradis Films – Kinowelt Filmproduktion – Working Title Films / 127 minutes / 2011

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Writers: Peter Straughan, Bridget O’Connor
Novel: John le Carré

cast
Gary Oldman as George Smiley
Benedict Cumberbatch as Peter Guillam
Colin Firth as Bill Haydon
Mark Strong as Jim Prideaux
Stephen Graham as Jerry Westerby
Ciarán Hinds as Roy Bland
Tom Hardy as Ricki Tarr
Kathy Burke as Connie Sachs
Arthur Nightingale as Bryant
John Hurt as Control
David Dencik as Toby Esterhase
Christian McKay as Mackelvore
Simon McBurney as Oliver Lacon
Stuart Graham as Minister
Michael Sarne as Karla (Voice)
Linda Marlowe as Mrs McCraig
Toby Jones as Percy Alleline
Svetlana Khodchenkova as Irina
Mucsi Zoltán as Magyar
Amanda Fairbank-Hynes as Belinda
Laura Carmichael as Sal
Konstantin Khabenskiy as Polyakov
Ilona Kassai as Woman in Window
Imre Csuja as KGB Agent
Péter Kálloy Molnár as Hungarian Waiter
Peter O’Connor as Fawn
Roger Lloyd Pack as Mendel
Jamie Thomas King as Kaspart
Philip Martin Brown as Tufty Thesinger
Rupert Procter as Guillam’s Boyfriend
Katrina Vasilieva as Ann Smiley
John le Carré as Christmas Party Guest