I remember the paperback on my father’s nightstand, binding bent back, pages frayed. He loved to read, and especially he loved to read these spy novels.

We ventured out to see the film adaptation this afternoon. The first thing I noticed was the colour and the atmosphere. It’s drab and ugly and nothing in the background is clear. All of this, I suppose, is much like the film. Very little is clear.

It’s a really good film, better than I expected. We’re not used to this kind of spy film. These days, spies look like Matt Damon or Tom Cruise and they do a lot of stunts and shoot a lot of guns and get involved in a lot of chases. Tinker Tailor is populated by unattractive middle aged guys who don’t do a lot of anything. It’s all about information and loyalties. Everything is tied together. Nothing is clear.

Although there is little action, there is plenty of suspense, a slow building kind of suspense, punctuated by occasional acts of violence. This is the cold war, and it seems a million miles away. Still, the writer of the original book, John le Carré, worked for British intelligence. He knew what he was talking about, knew what this world was all about.

If you’re looking for a mindless actioner, this isn’t the film for you. For that, we’re thinking of going to see the latest Mission Impossible tomorrow. If you want a complex film rich in atmosphere, check out Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It’s a good one.