The Tailor of Panama

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Tailors are the secret-keepers of the power elite; customize fine apparel for the rich and powerful, and you'll hear things only whispered in the halls of government. Such is the sly conceit of The Tailor of Panama, coadapted by John le Carré from his own novel, and directed by John Boorman with a delicious spin on the traditions of the spy genre. As British MI-6 agent Andy Osnard, Pierce Brosnan qualifies as James Bond's black-sheep sibling, viewing women only in terms of sexual conquest and conducting spy business by his own flexible set of rules. Banished to Panama to pay for recent indiscretions, Andy connects with Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), a British ex-convict who's built a lucrative cover as tailor to Panama's highest officials. With the coveted Panama canal now under local control, Andy's arrived to see what Harry knows about the canal's pending multinational sale.

As Andy observes, Panama is "Casablanca without heroes," and that's precisely how Boorman depicts it: a melting pot of greed, ambition, and backroom maneuvering, where Andy can bed an embassy official (Catherine McCormack) while squeezing information from Harry, who concocts a phony "silent opposition" that puts British and American forces on full alert. Harry's wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) is pulled into the scenario by Andy's ruthless scheming, and The Tailor of Panama reveals how a simple fabrication can provoke trigger-happy forces around the globe. Part comedy and part political horror thriller--with a tragic supporting role for Brendan Gleason, from Boorman's The General--this is old-fashioned spy stuff made new by le Carré's inventive plotting and keen ear for the dialogue of rogues. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Satire on Political Thrillers.......2007-08-10

Panama is important for its wide-open banking system (money laundering) and as a way station for drug shipments. An agent from MI-6 in London is sent there to do what they do. (Don't ask if you don't have a need to know.) There is a Savile Row tailor who business is shaky; he needs money quickly. [Could higher-ups be squeezing Harry Pendel, the tailor, to turn him into a source of information?] Harry's custom includes the ruling class of Panama. Andrew Osnard pays 5,000$US for a tour of Panama. This includes a man whose tongue is loosened by liquor.

The poor people are fed up with their oppression by their corrupt rulers, but can do nothing but complain. [As in other countries?] Osnard gathers information on the "silent opposition" in Panama. CIA Director George Bush made Noriega the ruler of Panama. President George Bush ended Noriega's reign with an invasion by US military forces. There is a flashback to show how Noriega's police kept law and order. [They don't tell what is going on now.] The information that Pendel provides is startling, the higher-ups want confirmation in writing. [The conspirators must put something in writing.] The film shows the odd locales used for meetings (a hotel, a dance hall). A strange travelogue indeed! When Harry thinks about quitting Andy threatens to expose and ruin his life.

The film shows how this misinformation rises to the top in an American-British conference. [Do you see the satire here?] The plan is to back the opposition to put a new class in power in Panama. The truth seems to be that any excuse will do as a reason to invade Panama and seize the canal. [An echo of Suez?] Would Ronald Reagan approve? There is a car chase like in other spy stories, but this ends in the weeds. Andy Osnard catches a private jet to Switzerland, he is aided by the British Ambassador. Is this the start of a beautiful friendship? There is a happy ending (which contradicts the main part of this story). Does satire do well at the box office?

Films are the condensed and simplified versions of the novel they are taken from. Sometimes the story is changed, for better or worse.

A really stupid flick........2007-08-04

I had back pain, needed to lie down, and decided to look at the local newspaper to see what was on TV. This movie was listed with a 3-star (out of 4) rating, so I picked it to watch. I guess they would have given 3 stars to anything bashing American and British imperialism and its devilish plans, especially against the proud people of Panama (which, if you don't know, is a South American country, located right where the canal is). There is absolutely nothing in this film to even partially redeem its incredibly silly premise. I first thought that the leading actor was James Woods, but it turned out to be another guy, which put a final nail in the coffin of my opinion. Save yourself the trouble.

Intriguing Subtle Spy Film.......2007-02-09

I enjoyed this movie immensely. I found it to be very interesting. Geoffrey Rush is very charismatic and rather incomparable in his performance as the Tailor of Panama. This film was made as one of Brosnan's non-Bond films during his tenure as 007 and he expertly plays his British Intelligence part convincingly, very realistically and then some with no hint of the cinematic James Bond entrapping. The plot is intriguing as Brosnan plants innuendo and false information through the connected Geoffrey Rush to accomplish his mission. Boorman gives us great character studies which are the foundation of this little gem of a film. This is a long overdue film of substance from director John Boorman, the man who gave us EXCALIBUR (1981) and POINT BLANK (1967) and DELIVERANCE (1972).

Nice Little Spy movie.......2007-02-09

I really like this little spy film. Great performances all around. A real change of pace.

A must see for so many reasons.......2007-01-09

This is an excellent adaptation of the book. The casting and acting is excellent. Pierce Brosnan is so good in this he should have won the Oscar. Geoffrey Rush is such an excellent actor and this role is perfectly suited to him. I can't help but think that this role may have ruined Pierce Brosnan for James Bond movies since this movie showed he could act, something the James Bond movies don't require.

Average customer rating:

Blu-Ray edition is average quality
top remake
Outstanding Subtle Spy Film

The Tailor of Panama [Blu-ray]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000KX0IT0
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Customer Reviews:

Blu-Ray edition is average quality.......2007-05-18

I must admit I do not share the other reviewers enthusiasm for this movie. It is definitely a B grade production and very corny at times. It is basically a slap stick send up of the 007 movies.

This Blu-Ray edition has a very average video transfer, there is a lot of MPEG compression artifacts visible and blow me down, the sound track is only Dolby Digital 5.0 wheres the HD in that offering?

top remake.......2007-02-26

"The Tailor of Panama" is a remake of "Our Man in Havana", a great movie with Alec Guiness having the lead role. So the cast of the remake had a mountain to climb in order not to flop- and they did. Bronsan made this movie while he was James Bond and I believe that he tried to sort of make a joke of the beloved secret agent (in a good sense). On the other hand you have Rush, the victim of the story that fills the legacy left by Guiness. But apart from the good cast the is a very good plot. Aspy movie with comic influences that keeps you interested for two hours and more importantly entertains you

Outstanding Subtle Spy Film.......2007-02-07

I enjoyed this movie immensely. I found it to be very interesting. Geoffrey Rush is very charismatic and rather incomparable in his performance as the Tailor of Panama.

This film was made as one of Brosnan's non-Bond films during his tenure as 007 and he expertly plays his British Intelligence part convincingly, very realistically and then some with no hint of the cinematic James Bond entrapping.

The plot is intriguing as Brosnan plants innuendo and false information through the connected Geoffrey Rush to accomplish his mission. Boorman gives us great character studies which are the foundation of this little gem of a film.

This is a long overdue film of substance from director John Boorman, the man who gave us EXCALIBUR (1981) and POINT BLANK (1967) and DELIVERANCE (1972).

Average customer rating:

A Satire on Political Thrillers
A really stupid flick.
Intriguing Subtle Spy Film
Nice Little Spy movie
A must see for so many reasons

The Tailor of Panama [Region 2]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan , Geoffrey Rush , Jamie Lee Curtis , Leonor Varela , and Brendan Gleeson
Director: John Boorman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005NWYR

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Satire on Political Thrillers.......2007-08-10

A really stupid flick........2007-08-04

Intriguing Subtle Spy Film.......2007-02-09

Nice Little Spy movie.......2007-02-09

I really like this little spy film. Great performances all around. A real change of pace.

A must see for so many reasons.......2007-01-09

Average customer rating:

A Satire on Political Thrillers
A really stupid flick.
Intriguing Subtle Spy Film
Nice Little Spy movie
A must see for so many reasons

The Tailor of Panama [Region 2]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan , Geoffrey Rush , Jamie Lee Curtis , Leonor Varela , and Brendan Gleeson
Director: John Boorman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005N9FZ

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A Satire on Political Thrillers.......2007-08-10

A really stupid flick........2007-08-04

Intriguing Subtle Spy Film.......2007-02-09

Nice Little Spy movie.......2007-02-09

I really like this little spy film. Great performances all around. A real change of pace.

A must see for so many reasons.......2007-01-09

DVD:

DVD

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