The impressive accomplishments in Tomas Alfredson’s “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” are manifold. The first, and perhaps what will stick with me the most, is how immaculately crafted the movie is. Every aspect below the line is crisp and precise, be it Alberto Iglesias’ subtle score, Hoyte van Hoytema’s swift camerawork, Maria Djurkovic’s richly detailed sets, or the unbelievably meticulous control over sound and silence. “Hugo” may have been the Academy’s technical darling of 2011, but this movie can rival its excellence in all those categories (except maybe visual effects).
The second is Gary Oldman’s performance as George Smiley, one of his finest on-screen roles yet. Much was made of how criminal it was that the lauded character actor had not received an Oscar nomination before “Tinker Tailor,” and thankfully now that has been corrected. But there is much more to this work than merely endowing Oldman with the epithet “Academy Award nominee.”
Oldman shows his mastery of understatement playing Smiley, a man of few words. When he’s not speaking, we never have a doubt that Oldman is totally within his character’s mind, never moving a pore without purpose. When he is speaking, Oldman is forceful and commanding, owning the screen that includes one of the largest casts of acclaimed British actors outside the “Harry Potter” series. It’s an acting master class from one of the industry’s best and brightest, definitely one Hollywood could learn a lesson or two from as well.
Marshall and the Movies 
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