Movie Musing: Tom Hardy is a Wimp

Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch Own Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Not to worry. Tom Hardy can never be a wimp in reality. It’s only in the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Recently, I declared myself a Tom Hardy devotee after witnessing his machismo time and time again in his film outings. I began a pilgrimage to complete watching all of his onscreen performances, including those well-known outings as the infamous “bad-ass”. Films that spring to mind are Lawless, where his performance dethrones 50 Cent to claim the title “Bullet Proof,” and The Dark Knight Rises where he portrays the super villain Bane, playing around with Batman as if he were a stuffed teddy bear. He epitomizes masculinity.

That was until I watched Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In simple terms, Tom Hardy is a wuss in the movie. He gets clobbered by Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes from Sherlock) and does nothing about it. There is a first time for everything. He is also blonde… Like I said, there is a first time for everything. Yet, the most arresting performance was from Gary Oldman who plays a taciturn intelligence operative, seemingly worn down and eroded by years of service to his country, displayed through his speech and demeanor. Yet, as the lead he needed to display a sense of control, calm and dignity throughout the movie, as it is up to him to decipher the mystery of the film, which he does unequivocally. Even Benedict Cumberbatch does an exemplary job as Oldman’s right hand, doing all the laborious field tasks that Oldman’s body cannot endure… like stealing files from cabinets.

To be concise, the movie is about ex-intelligence officer George Smiley (Gary Oldman) who wakes up from retirement to find out the mole stationed deep within British Intelligence, a double agent who feeds information to the Russians (who else), upon the request of a higher authority. This isn't your mundane mystery thriller. The usual movie would utilize one character as an instrument to reveal the secret, through a tell-all speech. Tinker Tailor uses an anachronistic structure, shifting between the past and present to complete the puzzle about the main plot and the personal lives of the characters, which synchronize meaningfully at the end. The details are administered to the viewer in morsels, enough to prevent impatience and not too much to kill the suspense. However, the standout element relates to the Russian KGB officer named Karla calling all the shots, and the man Smiley is after. Throughout the movie, neither the identity nor the appearance of this Karla is revealed. The viewer is desperate to put a face to the name, but by refusing to do so, the director manages to amplify the sense of mystery tenfold.

A great film structure and the chance to see one’s favorite actors outside their stereotypical roles, this is a must-watch. I don’t know why I waited 2 years to watch this movie. If this is still not persuading enough, let me remind you. Tom Hardy is a blonde… who gets punched... and gets his swagger back later on.