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Let The Right Spy In

post #1 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:16pm
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http://chud.com/articles/articles/20...-IN/Page1.html
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post #2 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:28pm
As it happens, I just rewatched the Alec Guinness TV versions of "Tinker Tailor" and "Smiley's People" a couple weeks ago, and it struck me just how perfectly the British TV style of the day matched the feel and pacing of Le Carre's books.

If it were most directors, I would assume they would just give this the Jason Bourne treatment, and abandon hope. But I loved Let The Right One In, and could certainly picture Alfredson bringing the material a modern sense of paranoia without going overboard on the shakey-cam.

What worries me more is that the bare bones of the story aren't as compelling as the characters that people the journey to its resolution, and that stripping the story down to a couple of hours may lose much of what made it interesting in the first place.

As for who could possibly replace Guinness... tough call. I'll say Jim Broadbent, but I'm sure they'll want a bigger name. As long as they resist the urge to cast Sasha Baron Cohen as Toby Esterhazy...
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post #3 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:28pm
Oh, man, hopes high already. I haven't read LeCarre in way too long, could be time for a revisit. Decades ago (sigh) as a teen I had a Ludlum binge going on, when my dad handed me "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold." Yeah, bit of a jump in quality. Which reminds me, I never have gotten around to the Richard Burton film of that one...
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post #4 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:30pm
How old/fat/bald could they really make him? There are lots of gimmicky routes to go for casting (Pierce Brosnan, etc.), but it'd be neat to see him as an actual schlub.
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post #5 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:34pm
Jeb: glad to hear that those two Alec Guinness-led versions still hold up. I remember enjoying them years ago when they first played on television. I'd be all for a new movie version of either of these books.

I'd like to see Tom Wilkinson take on the role of Smiley.
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post #6 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
How old/fat/bald could they really make him? There are lots of gimmicky routes to go for casting (Pierce Brosnan, etc.), but it'd be neat to see him as an actual schlub.
As I say: Broadbent.
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post #7 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:37pm
Brendan Gleason?
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post #8 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
I'd like to see Tom Wilkinson take on the role of Smiley.
Well, he'd certainly be closer in age than most of the better-known Brits of the day.

I dunno, though... I love the guy, but somehow don't see him in the part. Not sure why.

EDIT: I think with him, and Gleeson as mentioned below, I'd have trouble buying the inoffensive veneer that Smiley wears (or, rather, I would have trouble believing that they could convince the other characters of their evident harmlessness). The two of them just always seem to project a kind of strength, even when they play weak characters (if that makes any sense).

But, hell, they're guys I'd watch in just about anything, and Smiley would be no exception.

You know who'd be an interesting choice: Peter Firth. He's practically in rehearsal for the role now.
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post #9 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:43pm
I couldn't really hazard a guess into casting without knowing one lick about the character, but I'd love to see Alan Rickman play the lead hero one of these days.
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post #10 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pop Zeus View Post
I couldn't really hazard a guess into casting without knowing one lick about the character, but I'd love to see Alan Rickman play the lead hero one of these days.
He'd be a great Bill Haydon, except that his very presence would virtually give away the ending.

By the way, he does have a small role in "Smiley's People."
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post #11 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:45pm
These are all the usual suspects (where's Bob Hoskins??), but if they're talking about a franchise, this shit's getting reimagined pretty hard.
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post #12 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:46pm
True, but that's just speculation at this point (though you're doubtless correct).
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post #13 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:56pm
Pete Postelthwaite would be an interesting choice for Smiley as well.
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post #14 of 32
7/9/09 at 3:58pm
Clive Owen, Anti-Bond
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post #15 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:31pm
Nice. This is a director that I'll be following as I loved LTROI.

And the Clive Owen suggestion? That (or Liam Neeson or Hugh Jackman) is actually pretty likely, at least if a major studio is going to be distributing this.

I also suspect that Alfredson is going to be avoiding all the Bourne/Bond cliches and make something a bit different in the spy thriller genre.
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post #16 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:32pm
How schlubby is Smiley supposed to be? I think Ben Kingsley could undo some of the damage of his recent filmography by taking the role.
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post #17 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Le Carré describes him as a somewhat short and fat man, who always wears expensive but badly fitting clothes (he "dressed like a bookie"). He also has a peculiar habit of cleaning his glasses on the "fat end" of his necktie.
I love Kingsley, but again, if they're looking to bankroll a trilogy, tough one.
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post #18 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:44pm
Freddie Jones's portrayal of Kenneth Aubrey in 'Firefox' is the look that you're going for, then.
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post #19 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judas Booth View Post
Freddie Jones's portrayal of Kenneth Aubrey in 'Firefox' is the look that you're going for, then.
I prefer this look of Freddie's...

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post #20 of 32
7/9/09 at 4:51pm
Pretty excited for a new hopefully well made, mature and artistic British spy movie (Casino Royale had a near prefect blend of action and plot but Quantum of Solace was a huge fumble imho even though I still enjoyed it).
Hopefully Tomas Alfredson is given free rein to update the story for a modern day audience whilst keeping the praised intelligence (have to admit I haven't read the book but have heard very good things) of the original novel.
As a huge fan of the British tv series Spooks and making the assumption that their gonna change the age of the main character I'd love to see either Matthew Macfayden or Rupert Penry-Jones be given a shot at the big screen. If they keep him a bit older Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson or even Gary Oldman would be pretty awesome,
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post #21 of 32
7/9/09 at 6:38pm
I was just wondering how they'd handle a new George Smiley series of movies a few weeks ago. Pretty cool to see it coming together and in good hands too.
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post #22 of 32
7/9/09 at 7:50pm
Well, this is a guy pulled from retirement, right? Is Michael Caine too old? I don't really know the character, but it could be sweet having him cap a career of spy flicks with a big Oscar-friendly potential classic.
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post #23 of 32
7/9/09 at 7:53pm
Tomas Alfredson doing Le Carre. Sounds good to me.

While I know nothing about the character, should they cast a more unconventional actor in the leading role, all the better.
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post #24 of 32
7/9/09 at 7:56pm
Toby Jones
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post #25 of 32
7/9/09 at 10:46pm
Geoffrey Rush would be amazing as Smiley. I really hope they don't fuck this up, as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a great novel.
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post #26 of 32
7/9/09 at 10:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Admiral Shark View Post
Geoffrey Rush would be amazing as Smiley. I really hope they don't fuck this up, as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a great novel.
Bingo, right age, right chops, right feel - and still young enough to build a trilogy around.

I've only seen the original Guinness film many many years ago as a wee lad to the point I barely remember it. I've never actually read any LeCarre, but I think I need to rectify that.

I am a hundred percent onboard simply because I'm dying to see what Alfredson does next.
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post #27 of 32
7/9/09 at 11:06pm
I keep seeing Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the role.
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post #28 of 32
7/10/09 at 2:29am
I was actually thinking Rush would make a great Percy Alleline.

But the more I think about it, the more I say-- fuck it. There's already one near-perfect adaptation of the material, in the right period, with the actors the right ages.

Let Alfredson try something different: cast it a bit younger (Neeson, maybe), shake it up a little.
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post #29 of 32
7/10/09 at 7:32am
Quote:
Well, this is a guy pulled from retirement, right? Is Michael Caine too old? I don't really know the character, but it could be sweet having him cap a career of spy flicks with a big Oscar-friendly potential classic.
Exactly my thoughts Doc, it would be fun to see Caine come full circle in his career and play him as an older and wiser Harry Palmer.
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post #30 of 32
7/10/09 at 1:13pm
Great News

And my pick would be Gary Oldman, if he is able to put on some weight.
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post #31 of 32
7/10/09 at 1:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trav McGee View Post
Oh, man, hopes high already. I haven't read LeCarre in way too long, could be time for a revisit. Decades ago (sigh) as a teen I had a Ludlum binge going on, when my dad handed me "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold." Yeah, bit of a jump in quality. Which reminds me, I never have gotten around to the Richard Burton film of that one...
They are doing an audio verison of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold on Radio 4 at the moment (so it's probably on bbc Iplayer). Brian Cox is in the lead role, so when i read this article he was my first choice as the title charater in in Tinker, Taylor.
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post #32 of 32
4/27/11 at 12:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharpel007 View Post

And my pick would be Gary Oldman, if he is able to put on some weight.


Just revisiting this thread for the first time in a while, and I didn't recall anyone nailing that-- nice one!

 

Been following IMDB's casting with great interest, and the fact that they don't list the name of Firth's character suggests to me that he will have the Ian Richardson role (which is ony spoilery if you already know the TV version).

 

Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy all appear well-cast; a new addition appears to be the guy who played the editor in the "Dragon Tattoo" movies as Toby Esterhaze.

 

But I'm particularly intrigued to see that Ann Smiley is being played by a Russian actress: I'm wondering if this signals

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

some significant juggling of the plot: if Smiley will no longer be brought out of retirement, but will instead be under investigation (because his wife is Russian), and have to uncover the mole on his own; perhaps, too, her nationality will provide an additional link to Karla.

Or maybe she does a good British accent.

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