A Spy Among Friends

'A Spy Among Friends' is hard work. So hard, in fact, that even having watched it to its conclusion I'm not absolutely certain of what was going on throughout its six episodes. And the reason for this is two-fold:

1. The story concerns spies and counter-spies and. For all I know,. Counter-counter-spies, and that itself makes for a difficult road. But, 2. Making matters more difficult (by far) is that the series goes back and forth and back again and forth again between time periods so that we can never grow comfortable with what's going on in the 'current' story-line. The series plays with us in this regard. A 1963 character walks into a room and in the next instant we see the same character in 1945 entering an altogether different room. And while we're trying to make sense of all this, the story moves to another time or place entirely.

Damien Lewis as one of the film's leads is excellent. There is about him an effete upper-crust quality that at times gives way to a very humane and caring side. Guy Pearce as 'The Spy' has a less complex role, but he carries it off nicely. We do not experience the battles within his mind as well as we might; his duplicity is, after all, the reason for this story (based on a true UK spy Kim Philby who in fact spied FOR the Soviets. Anna Maxwell Martin as a government interrogator (MI5) is absolutely wonderful. If there's a hero in this series, it is she.

In short, hard work. At times fatiguing. But worth giving it a try.

But if while watching it you begin to hope that the following episodes will be 'more clear', you can forget about sticking with it.

They won't.

A movie about the world of spies, not a spy movie.

Captivating and dynamic to the end; even in crescendo.

The central character Nicholas Elliott is wonderful. He is "the spy among friends". The friends are everyone else: the defector Philby, the commoner Ann from MI5, the impetuous yankee Angelton, the arrogants Sir... "More involved than he looks", he is the real spy, with a vision. He puts things in order; everyone learns from him.

The film is not about Philby; but how do you make things move forward, how do you manage a crisis... in british style.

A film about the great world of British espionage, with the imperial spy Elliott.

P. S. It's in small spaces because it's not an action movie. And it's not "in darkness" but in the shadows. Because the focus falls on the characters, it's a battle of intelligences.

I have to say I was initially sceptical given some of the bad reviews until I saw a pattern, most of the negative reviewers hadn't bother to finish it so I persevered and I'm glad I did. This show offers something that's missing from so many TV shows out there - an intelligent story told by actors with real talent. Sure the story jumps back and forth but if you actually pay attention and give it time the rewards are there. All are on fine form especially Damien Lewis who is superb.

If you like intelligent well crafted TV dramas that offer a twisty tale for grown up this might just be for you.

This must-see addition to the Cold War spy genre leans heavily on the visual and stylistic tropes established by the definitive 1979 BBC dramatisation of John Le Carre's 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'.

The lighting, settings, dialogue and pacing all pay homage to this classic series.

The production is absolutely sumptuous, with no expense spared. Beautiful photography, set decoration, locations and a legion of telephone boxes, pillar boxes and handily placed furniture vans (together with a cavalcade of vintage vehicles, archive footage and outstanding CGI matte shots) transform modern-day London and Bucharest into the Europe of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

The narrative is often difficult to follow. Some streamlining and signposting of the plot would help. I watched all six episodes back-to-back and, at times, it felt like I was reassembling the shredded CIA files after the Fall of Saigon. One dark, wintery street, full of shuffling brown shapes, looks much like any other.

But the acting is top-notch. BAFTA-worthy performances from Anna Maxwell Martin, Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce, and the story really rewards those who stick with it. Plaudits for the original score too.

Heartily recommended, though, for multiple viewings, I'd opt for Alec Guinness every time.

One of the first commissions for new UK Streamer ITVX this six part drama has quality written all over it. The production values are high and there is a premium cast led by Damian Lewis, Anna Maxwell Martin and Guy Pearce.

Its a fascinating story that focuses on Philby and how MI5 played their hand once they conclusively worked out that he had been a long term Soviet agent.

For me the strength of it was in the production and the acting. I think some will find a bit slow moving and dull as the setup involves lot of scenes of interrogation and relatively little action seen in occasional flashbacks. Its more 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' than Mission Impossible' which is fine unless you're expecting the latter.

Quibles, as usual it was photographed way too darkly, it was sometimes hard to see the actors at all. Anna Maxwell is a great actress but if the story demanded a strong female character from Durham couldn't we have had an actress authentically from the area? The shifts in time were also hard to follow and over-used.

But for fans of the genre its definitely one to savour and enjoy.