The Tailor of Panama (2001)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

John Boorman

Writers (WGA):

John le Carré (novel)
Andrew Davies (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In a place this treacherous, what a good spy needs is a spy of his own.

Plot:

A tailor living in Panama reluctantly becomes a spy for a British agent.

Plot Keywords:

Panama | Tailor | Spy | President | Political

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 20

3:15 AM

MAX

Cast

Pierce Brosnan	...	Andrew 'Andy' Osnard
Geoffrey Rush	...	Harold 'Harry' Pendel
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Louisa Pendel
Leonor Varela	...	Marta
Brendan Gleeson	...	Michelangelo 'Mickie' Abraxas
Harold Pinter	...	Uncle Benny
Catherine McCormack	...	Francesca Deane
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Mark Pendel
Lola Boorman	...	Sarah Pendel
David Hayman	...	Luxmore
Mark Margolis	...	Rafi Domingo
Martin Ferrero	...	Teddy, the Reporter
John Fortune	...	Maltby
Martin Savage	...	Stormont
Edgardo Molino	...	Juan-David

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | Ireland

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

In the first scene with Geoffrey Rush, a picture of Sean Connery golfing can be seen. Rush's character Harry Pendel then goes on to say that the suit he is tailoring is much like one that Connery used to wear. This seems to be a reference to Connery in his Bond days, since he got much of his love of golf from the set of Goldfinger (1964) and since MI6 is featured in Pierce Brosnan's first scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Andy is dancing with Francesca for the first time at the outdoor bar/restaurant, her sunglasses at one point are almost completely falling off the back of her head; when the shot moves to close up, they are back on the top of her head.

Quotes:

Andrew 'Andy' Osnard: There's two ways we can deal with this one, old girl. Sweat it out for six months, then fall into each other's arms. "Darling, why didn't we ever do this before?" Method B, the preferred one... full-on affair, now. Observing tight security all round. See how we like it. If we don't, chuck it in. No one's the wiser.
Francesca Deane: I don't suppose it's occurred to you that I might hugely prefer someone else?
Andrew 'Andy' Osnard: Is that a "no"?
Andrew 'Andy' Osnard: No.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Taylor of Atlanta (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

La Gallina Fina

Excellent satire of the intelligence business, told with a straight face

It's too bad about the low IMDB rating for this movie. It is a deft blend of James Bond, Casablanca and Dr Strangelove which directs its often vicious tongue-in-cheek barbs at both the intelligence industry and the spy films which glorify it. While it can be enjoyed "straight", that is as a story in its own right, I think those who miss its satirical structure (the film doesn't directly let the audience in on the joke - it must be inferred), miss half the fun.