Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a sophisticated spy film directed by Tomas Alfredson and is based on a novel by John Le Carre. 

British Intelligence is comprised of Control (John Hurt), George Smiley (Gary Oldman), Bill Haydon (Colin Firth), Toby Esterhase (David Dencik), Percy Alleline (Toby Jones), and Roy Bland (Ciaran Hinds). With the help of Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch), Smiley must identify a Russian agent, referred to as a mole, among the senior figures in the British Intelligence service upon hearing a story from rogue agent Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy).

The way the plot unfolds seems more complex than Inception since it's nearly impossible to follow the layers of twists if you are not familiar with the names of each character. That includes first names, last names, nicknames, and aliases. 

Anyone who steps into the theater expecting car chases, explosions, and gunfights will be disappointed. This is a slow paced film that requires the audience to be constantly engaged and to speculate what will happen next. Although I have not completed the book or watched the television series, most people who have are more likely to enjoy this film since they have a greater understanding of the plot.

The cinematography is spectacular, incorporating a grainy look to match the Cold War setting. This is a very intriguing film with a strong performance by Gary Oldman.