The Tailor of Panama

Starring:Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee Curtis
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
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.

Amazon.com

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:

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.

Silent Heroism.......2006-09-16

John Le Carre is the master of slow-moving, intricately plotted mysterious doings in foreign lands. His method never fails to unnerve me, as I try to figure out what will happen next. What happens next is usally, as in The Tailor of Panama, a crescendo culminating in tragedy although not necessary a "win" for the bad guys. Often, a "lose" for the "good" guys, if a reader can figure out which is which. Which is why I love reading Le Carre and watching the subsequent movie or DVD or both.

Living in the Tailors House.......2006-07-27

I remember seeing this movie when it was in theaters. I liked it but did not love it. It is a movie you have to pay attention to in order to follow along. At that time I didnt really care or think about Panama either.

I purchased it recently because I now live in Panama in the house that was used as the "Tailors" house (exterior only, inside was a set). Watching the film again was more interesting bacause I now understood and knew the concepts (control of the canal) and the area (panama city). They have some great shots of the city and canal in the movie, very "famous" areas.

Overall the movie still wasnt great, but was better the second time around.

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:

Intriguing Subtle Spy Film
Nice Little Spy movie
A must see for so many reasons
Silent Heroism
Living in the Tailors House

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: B00005N9FZ

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

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

Silent Heroism.......2006-09-16

Living in the Tailors House.......2006-07-27

Average customer rating:

Intriguing Subtle Spy Film
Nice Little Spy movie
A must see for so many reasons
Silent Heroism
Living in the Tailors House

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