Masterful Movie

Great Film overall

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

I liked Tailor when it came out and I liked it at home in 2016. For those who find it problematic, please note that it's "based" on a John Le Carre novel. His novels are cynical. But why write more than this? I guess that's why I don't submit simple like-or-dislike reviews to IMDb. Back in 2002 several reviewers, probably seeing the 10-line requirement, got rolling and over and over again told readers what the plot was, who the main characters were, how the characters filled out the plot, how wonderfully ironic the movie was, and finally how much they either liked or disliked the movie. I read about a half dozen of those reviews and now know what the reviewers saw and thought of the movie. Voila. I also know now why the reviews are so like one another except in the fine points of liking or disliking. Why in heaven's name does IMDb insist on reviews stuffed with plot lines and character descriptions in one review after another after another? Also, some review readers and movie viewers may very well find such long-winded reviews to be spoilers because of all the detail reviewers have inserted. Oh yes, and Tailor was very atmospheric.

The Tailor of Panama (2001): Dir: John Boorman / Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson: Geoffrey Rush is the tailor and he served a prison sentence for dealings involving the Canal. His job is to cover up until Pierce Brosnan shows up from the British Embassy forcing him to resurrect a past that he would rather forget existed. Directed by John Boorman who previously made the suspenseful Deliverance as well as the unsuspenseful flop The Exorcist 2: The Heretic. This ranks as one of his better films with its provocative themes but it still has narrative issues. We see Rush as an individual trying to do good and live out his life trying to forget his sins. This is a different role for Brosnan and he displays a vicious side that involves blackmail. Jamie Lee Curtis is well cast as Rush's wife who knows that something just isn't right but unfortunately the screenplay throws in a pointless scene where she is seduced by Brosnan. In smaller a role is Catherine McCormack but these roles are not as broad as they could be. Brendan Gleeson is another talent but underused as well. Action and thriller fans may be reluctant to approach this due to its pacing. It is a suspenseful film about skeletons in closets and the struggle to do right again. The good news is that some relationships can withstand anything and forgiveness finds a way of healing the scars of the past. Score: 6 ½ / 10

An old school, dialogue driven spy thriller set in the far away land of Panama. Even the film techniques are old school (the Thames view in the beginning, editing!). It all feels very 70s (and it isn't necessarly a bad thing). If you enjoyed Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy with Alec Guiness, you should give it a try. The pace is much faster though and the atmosphere less dense. Brosnan as a cynical manipulator is quite believable. G. Rush as Harry the Tailor feels overdone at times but it's all part of the 70s movie convention. For more Bond like, action filled, black white characters spy movies look elsewhere. Set your expectations right and you will enjoy this one.

Now this is one movie that may not click with everybody as it shows people getting away with huge wealth through illegal & unethical means. And for that reason, it hasn't clicked with me too.However, I appreciate the performances of actors like Geoffrey Rush and Pierce Brosnan. The former struggles to do the right thing while the latter is effortless in doing the wrong thing! Keeping in mind the brazen character essayed by Brosnan, naturally there are some hot scenes too.Maybe it's too many dialogues & dialogues that makes it partially cumbersome. If not for the steamy moments, I would have easily dozed off! Verdict: Partly boring, partly provocative. I'd say, skip it.