Moscow rules

[khaosworks]

Been quiet for a while - nothing much going on this week, just trying to get past work and heading for the long weekend. I had the sudden urge to rewatch the most excellent BBC adaptations of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Smiley's People", and I always marvel at how absolutely compelling drama it is, for little to no action and scenes consisting entirely of talking heads. Alec Guinness's quiet, gentle portrayal of George Smiley holds such hidden steel that you're constantly drawn to him just to see if you can pierce that veil of mystery, the hint of the wheels turning inside the ultimate spymaster's head. I don't think such an adaptation would even be contemplated for today's modern audience by network executives, who would probably demand that Smiley shag Madame Ostrakova, or Peter Guillam be played by Ben Affleck, or something.

Makes me want to dig out my Sandbaggers DVDs next.

Comments

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That episode wasn't released on the VHS version for some reason, but it's in the DVD version. The flashback doesn't do the episode justice... you got to see the lead-in to that awful moment, and that horrifying decision Burnside has to make.

[serrana.livejournal.com]

Oh, you've sold me. I always felt the transition to the second series was really jarring (although a good parable about the perils of falling for someone you work with, when you work a job where people get shot at regularly....)

My dad's been musing about buying more things on DVD -- they're out in the country so they get no tv, and they're darned if they'll pay $40/month for cable when they can buy DVDs...I'll see if I can sell *him and then borrow them *GRIN*.