Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - 2 stars out of 10

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - 2 stars out of 10
600th Review

"Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" should have been a dramatic espionage thriller with a mind-numbing revelation when the mystery is solved... but it was just painfully boring.  With all of the code names floating around, it was difficult to distinguish which character was which, let alone get to know their personalities and motives.  I spent the duration of this film trying to organize this web of names in my mind without an ounce of empathy for any of the characters.  I love Gary Oldman as an actor and find him to be very deserving of an Oscar, but not for this role.  He just didn't do anything.  There weren't any powerful monologues or memorable moments.  I am particularly critical of the 2012 Oscar nominees for Best Actor because it is an injustice that Thomas Horn was not nominated for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."  I hope that Oldman wins an Oscar some day, but not for this film.  Colin Firth received second billing and he was barely in it at all.  There were just too many small characters for anybody to really shine.  I find it difficult to judge this film because I was bored out of my mind and when the mole was finally revealed at the end, I shrugged my shoulders and couldn't have cared less.  There are some incredible espionage films out there, but this is not one of them.