wilkinsonalan

Hunted down this movie, as it appears a rare beast. The cast is stellar for a British movie. The main protagonist appears to have been likened to James Dean. He spends much of the film striking louche poses - less angry young man, and more 'hip cat'. He appears miscast in this movie, as he inhabits a different plain to the rest of the cast. The storyline, in retrospect, is quite straight forward. However, it has managed to become inextricably entangled in elongated scenes of travel across the agricultural swathe of the then East Germany. There are also some unnecessary fight scenes that appear neither relevant nor truly aggressive. Conceivably, aspects of this movie are conceived out of homo-erotica? I truly wanted to love this movie. I adore 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold' and the BBC Smiley series, but this was to flaccid and languid for my tastes. Something of a shame when one notes the immense cast that was at the director's disposal. If you love Cold War dramas - and Le Carre adaptations, you will, no doubt, want to watch this movie - with much sadness, I have to say - be prepared to be underwhelmed.

There was a great movie in here that could have been unleashed. Nevertheless, still a good movie.

It steers out of the Disney zone, but doesn't make it into the indie... It could have been brilliant if it had taken the latter turn and been more idiosyncratic. Nifty actors with great comedic timing who dealt with a script that should have contained greater energy. Similarly, the cinematography and the use of locations could have been that bit more edgy which, potentially, could have taken this movie into that serendipitous, must-see category.

Watch it. It is a solid and very pleasant movie. Just could have been a fabulous movie.

I am a mug for Scandinoir. Truly enjoyed the plot of this movie - as a previous reviewer has commented - you can see the literary devices in the manner in which the plot unfolds.

It is amazingly photographed - and relentlessly damp and broody. Those long shots I linger on as I can see them as amazing stills in their own right.

It is a fabulous thriller that is on a scale that just surpasses the potential observation that it could have been achieved as a television drama.

I would be concerned that Hollywood would attempt to remake it, as it would be a waste of resource when the original is nigh-on perfectly formed.

Going to be extremely difficult to live up to when the subsequent chapters arrive 'on celluloid'. Bottom line - so Scandinoir; so great if you enjoy taut, smart thrillers; so watch it.