Last night on Twitter, @BretEastonEllis was grumbling about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: “Everything great about the novel is condensed into two confusing hours.” (Ellis has deleted that Tweet, but thanks to Google, it lives on.) “this grim, oppressively exquisite thing is so confusing it’s almost parodic…”
Today in Salon, in John Le Carré writes a brief appreciation of Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of his novel:
The spy fiction icon calls the new film the best adaptation of his work ever
Once in a lifetime, if a novelist is very lucky, he gets a movie made of one of his books that has its own life and truth. This is the achievement of Tomas Alfredson and his team.
This is a movie that entertains superbly and thrillingly at its own pace and rhythm — a hypnotic movie that takes you over completely. I don’t believe that any audience, once introduced to it, will be able to take its eyes off the screen.
In profound ways, it is touching and often alarming. In less profound ways, it is exciting and occasionally very funny. Its complexities are a pleasure to share, and the more so since the movie gently explains them and delivers a satisfying dénouement.
It is a work of art that stays with you, as good works of art do.
ellis is probably just pissed and venting his frustration about the recent anouncement of the american psycho remake in modern times. frankly, that kind of pisses me off too, haha.
FilmFatale,
Amicably I say it is fortunate we are only acquainted via the internet because what you have accused me of is lying. I live in Ireland where the film has been on release since September 18; I have seen it three times. I saw it the first time with someone who had read the book (I have not, but I recall watching the BBC adaptation from the late 70s). The other two occasions I bought friends who had neither read the book nor seen the series, so although they were very challenged by the plot they were very satisfied with the film. It is not an easy film I grant you, and I concede that your refined choice of “bloodless” is more appropriate, I found the film’s emotional restraint quite apt and very effective.
Respectfully, we disagree but for your claim that “nearly everyone I know (and even press) have walked away from this film completely befuddled…” The movie has a 90% rate on RottenTomatoes so what you’re suggesting is that those favorable critics are trying to pull wool. But for what purpose?
And let me exchange the word passion (since you pretend to not understand my intended and very clear meaning) for a better and more apt one — bloodless, which is what this stylistic exercise is.
Sorry Pope, but nearly everyone I know (and even press) have walked away from this film completely befuddled, and we are not idiot watchers looking for easy, digestible plots. You likely haven’t seen it yet. It is demanding and doesn’t not pay off.
I am reading the book right now and it is absolutely incomprehensible. And I’ve read frickin’ Ulysses! The movie better be clearer.
BTW, call my cynical, but I am always just a little suspicious when authors encourage people to see movies of their books and say how great those movies are. The financial success of the movie definitely helps them indirectly, thru book sales, and possibly helps them directly, if they have a share in the film’s profits.
Antoinette,
Many thanks for the correction. You have just proven that while a bad film can stink, a good film is scented.
The Passions of Christ and St. Matthew’s Passion.
You forgot Passion by Elizabeth Taylor. That’s the first perfume I ever bought. I suffered without any dates, hence, no passion. Not that it was the perfume’s fault.
But a coherent and involving narrative it most certainly is not.
That’s cool. I’m a David Lynch fan so I don’t need that stuff.
FilmFatale,
Wrong, wrong, wrong. And wrong, wrong, wrong. Similar things were said about Memento, The Conformist and Rashomon. TTSS has a complex plot but like the films cited, repeated viewings are rewarding (not for plot, which made sense to me, but for nuances and subtleties).
And finally, you say “there is no passion here at all.” You completely misunderstand the core meaning of passion. Passion comes from the Latin, passus which means to suffer, to submit… Hence the sayings, The Passions of Christ and St. Matthew’s Passion. Everyone suffers greatly in this film (loyalty, betrayal), and everyone submits (duty), most evidently in the relationship between Prideaux (Mark Strong) and Haydon (Colin Firth).
if he deleted his message then maybe it grew on him/ re-thought it.
Ellis was making a lot of wild and brutal assessments of various Oscar contenders last night — well after midnight, 2 a.m. or so. Several movie-writers on Twitter seemed to be thrilled that someone who used to be an enfant terrible was dipping his toe into Oscar predicting.
So I stopped by to see what was causing such a stir — and saw right away it was a lot of nonsense. He was going out of his way to insult a dozen actors and movies that I know are far better than he was giving them credit for. His sloshy proclamations sounded so reckless, I thought he might be drunk.
Ellis must have know he was being a jerk because he said in one of his Tweets, “I wonder how many of these Tweets I’ll have to delete tomorrow?” Turns out about 6 of the worst ones had disappeared today.
A lot of them had the tone of an insider who was telling tales out of school about private interactions — he knew he was saying indiscreet things to stir up trouble,
That bad boy act bores the hell out of me, and it made me a little ill to see a few other movie-writers gathered at his feet while he held court,
Personally I think it’s a nasty way to behave on Twiiter — if you don’t have the courage to stand by your words and leave them online for the world to see, then you probably should’ve thought twice before posting regrettable tweets in the first place.
No, I don’t like people deliberately trying to do damage to a movie before anyone except critics and insiders have had a chance to see it.
So it felt like sweet vindication to see Le Carre himself come out today and say how much he admired the film.
That’s all too messy to explain on the main page, but thanks for asking, akdf — It’s instructive to hear the backstory, I think.
Also and amusingly, the studio has created a handout “flow-chart” of character names, faces, relationships and alliances which they handed out to all press prior to the film’s start — that should tell you something.
Guys, it has nothing to do with Ellis. I have seen it twice now and it is lovely to look at, gorgeously designed and superbly acted. But a coherent and involving narrative it most certainly is not. In fact, it is all but impenetrable and the experience is like trying to take a calculus exam when you haven’t taken the course itself. It may be stylish and the cast impressive, but who did what to whom and why is not made clear for one minute. It is remote to a fault and cerebral all the way. There is no passion here at all.
I’m usually not confused by movies that confused most people. lol But I am confused as to whether I’ll actually ever get to see it. I kinda hate this movie right now because of it’s release schedule. It better be extra damn good. I was really looking forward to it at one point. Now I’m just kinda pissed.
I’m also confused as to why anyone expects Bret Easton Ellis to say anything nice. It seems like his twitter is all the rage right now but this is just who he always has been. I think I followed him for something like 3 days then got over it but that was a while ago.
I’ve really enjoyed the tweetage of TTSS support today. Finished the book a few weeks ago, can’t wait to see the movie.
Sure, the narrative is sprawling, complicated, and dense. But that’s what makes it good. If Mr. Ellis wants a spy movie that his remaining brain cells can follow, he best head on over to Johnny English 2.
Ellis is one to talk. When is the last time any of his novels were clear? Coke and alcohol fueled hallucinations don’t make for witty writing, unless you’re Thompson.
I agree with Le Carre. I’ve never read the book or seen the miniseries with Alec Guinness but I was riveted for the entire time the film was on screen. I’m a little confused myself as to why some people are finding this film so difficult to follow. My sister, who also hadn’t read the book or seen the previous miniseries, agreed that it wasn’t hard to understand what’s going on.
I’d love to see it again.
For the time being, with 19 reviews, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy has overtaken Moneyball and Harry Potter on Metacritic, with a score of 88 — right now.