The Looking Glass War
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Movie Reviews of The Looking Glass War
Movie Review: Good Spy Movie which captures the zeitgeist
Summary: 4 Stars
There are a number of technical and plot flaws with this story, and John le Carre clearly learned from them since they did not occur again in his later works. Seeing Anthony Hopkins act in this movie shows the potential which of course he has achieved in many roles since then.Movie Review: Good Spy Flick
Summary: 3 Stars
Just finished watching The Looking Glass War. I had never heard of this movie but I am a big fan of John LeCarre and his books and movies. This movie is definitely up to par with the others though I put Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy at the top of any realistic or true spy/espionage movie with The Russia House at the bottom of the list.
This movie stars Anthony Hopkins and a very young Christopher Jones. It is very much a LeCarre movie and is not about the action, though it has some. It is slow of pace at times but not in a bad way. It is more of a character study than a James Bond type movie. The movie delves more into the dirty dark and nasty side of of the spy game and the use of human beings as fodder for an ends to a means.
Good performances all around and a good movie. Check it out.
Movie Review: It's not his Polish accent
Summary: 3 Stars
Christopher Jones was indeed headed for great things via this film and his role in David Lean's Ryan's Daughter. David Lean cast the American actor as an injured British soldier in Ryan's Daughter on the strength of his wonderful Polish accent in this movie. Problem is: his voice was dubbed in Looking Glass War. That's why Jones speaks hardlly at all in Lean's film - couldn't do the English accent.
This film does keep the cynical spirit of Le Carre's book. Hopkins is great - this was his first Hollywood incarnation when, I believe, he liked a drink - and the whole thing is true to the spirit of Le Carre.
Movie Review: Mediocre adaptation of Le Carre
Summary: 2 Stars
The Looking Glass War is a mediocre adaptation of John Le Carre's novel of the same name. The acting is stilted and awkward, the screenplay poor, and the whole thing feels contrived, which it is. Even Anthony Hopkins' performance is poor. Bought it, watched it, put it up on eBay.
If you are looking for John Le Carre stories that have successfully made the jump from print to the silver screen, you want:
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold - Richard Burton is stunning in his portrayal of a burned-out spy.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - The BBC series starring Alec Guiness. I made the mistake of starting this one evening around 9 PM planning to watch two chapters and go to bed. I finally got to bed at 2:30 AM, having watched the entire thing.
Smiley's People - The BBC series sequel, as it were, to Tinker Tailor. Equally mesmerizing.
All-in-all, I am of the opinion that only the British can successfully translate Le Carre to the silver screen. Hollywood just doesn't get it.
Movie Review: Boring travesty of Le Carre's work.
Summary: 1 Stars
I love Le Carre and was looking forward to this film. But what a mess! The plot is a mishmash -- after about an hour I no longer cared what might happen to the protagonists. Excellent actors like Ralph Richardson and Anthony Hopkins are wasted in secondary roles. Other reviewers say that this movie was edited to death and I believe it. Save your money. Maybe they'll release Spy Who Came In From The Cold on DVD some day.