Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy: I admire the dustbin

Earlier in the week I finally got the time to see the film version of Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy. As others have said, it’s a fantastic movie. As is to be expected, there is rather less of the detailed “who was it?” detective twists and turns than in the book or lengthy TV adaptation. But what the movie excelled at were the emotions of the main characters and the period look and feel.

One attention to detail really impressed me in particular – the corrugated metal round rubbish bin. It could easily not have been in its two scenes at all, but its quiet, unobtrusive appearance on the pavement outside a house is just the sort of detail that gives the film such a rich period feel.

The film has been deservedly successful, though I make it that its revenues so far would buy you just one quarter of a Carlos Tevez.

If you have not yet seen the film yourself, here is a trailer to wet the appetite:

And if the film wets your appetite for the fuller story, you can get the book or DVD.