A Perfect Spy

1987
7.3| 0h30m| en
Synopsis

The life of British MI6 spy Magnus Pym, from his school days to his mysterious disappearance.

Director

Producted By

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Reviews

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Tweekums In the opening scenes of this seven part adaption of John Le Carré's story opens with the news that Magnus Pym, one of Britain's most respected spies has gone missing. The series then shows us Magnus's life up to this point. It is clear that his father Rick, a conman, has been a major influence on him from his early days as he involves Magnus in his schemes and tells him that one should be prepared to do anything for those you care for. Rick sends his son to a private school then to university in Switzerland. It is here that he meets Czech refugee Axel; the two become the best of friends but soon Axel is arrested by the authorities and deported. Time passes and Magnus joins the security services, the then meets Axel, who is now working for Czech intelligence, again and so begins a life time of deception. Magnus quickly becomes one of the agency's most important men and he is ultimately posted to the United States; here the Americans start to suspect him but his bosses are convinced that Magnus is one of the best; certainly not a traitor.Anybody who watched the recent Le Carré adaptation 'The Night Manager' and expects more of the same may be disappointed; this isn't about action or even about the scheming of spies, instead it is a character study of one man and how events turned him into a traitor. The usual clichéd motives of blackmail, ideology and money are eschewed in favour of a friendship forged in one's youth and the influence of his father. The story unfolds in a way that keeps Magnus a sympathetic character despite his treason. Peter Egan does a great job as Magnus Pym and is ably supported by Rüdiger Weigang as Axel; the scenes between the two are a delight. The rest of the cast are impressive too. The story unfolds at a steady pace but is never boring and the tension raises as the series approaches its inevitably tragic conclusion. Overall I recommend this to anybody who enjoys a good drama but doesn't demand lots of action.
DigIt Illudere (to delude) comes from Latin verb 'ludere' (to play), so you're introduced to the 'spy game' as a cruel and yet elaborate and intelligent (!) activity stemming from a complex and as it may appear absurd and vain personal history, whatever it may be; and yet I feel fascinated by the mechanism of treason and loyalty that we are presented in this narrative, the raw material of any relationship, from the personal to the social. Many years ago when I finally finished reading the book it was a revelation! At the beginning I was so bored if not for the surprising style of the writing (I really started to love Le Carre after that novel). The main character is not wavering at all: he has made a choice to redeem his weakness by following the path of faith to friendship and love, or is he not? After this novel you can have a clearer understanding of the darker version of Green's 'Our Man in Havana', LeCarre's 'The Tailor of Panama'; there you'll end up where there is no game left, there it ends either in tragedy or in a grotesque comical way, or both. There is no Smiley here to upheld decent human qualities in 'the service', or at least there is no point to introduce him in this case. The BBC has done a superb work with these series from LeCarre's novels: the actors are excellent, as are the locations and sets; the script here is adapted in a linear way that somehow disarm the explosive narrative of the book. Be warned though, even if someone may find the main character's end laughable in a cynical way, the after taste is bitter.
vicboyd001 This is without doubt my favourite Le Carre novel and it is transformed to the silver screen with all the love and care one could wish for. I read a review on this site that seems to find the characters loathsome but I believe this misses the point. All Le Carre stories are essentially love stories and this is no exception. It is an accurate reflection of the period in which it is set. Betrayal is the key by everybody for the good of nobody. Pym upbringing is so close to my own that I find it chilling watching. Peter Egan is in his finest role and the late lamented Ray McAnally is unbelievably good. Even the smallest roles played by such as Andy de la Tour, Tim Healy and Jack Ellis are spot on. This cast is a Theatre Impresario's Dream. The Story should not be spoiled by ill informed description but suffice it to say it relates to a young mans slow but inexorable destruction and descent into espionage and treason. All my sympathies lie with Magnus Pym and his sole (non sexual) love for Poppy (Rüdiger Weigang-as wonderful as always. His only true friendship but also by definition another in the long line of betrayals. OUTSTANDING! Rent it, buy it. love it.
ianmac32sc Without doubt the best of the novels of John Le Carre, exquisitely transformed into a classic film. Performances by Peter Egan (Magnus Pym, The Perfect Spy), Rudiger Weigang (Axel, real name Alexander Hampel, Magnus' Czech Intelligence controller), Ray McAnally (Magnus' con-man father) and Alan Howard (Jack Brotherhood, Magnus' mentor, believer and British controller), together with the rest of the characters, are so perfect and natural, the person responsible for casting them should have been given an award. Even the small parts, such as Major Membury, are performed to perfection. It says a lot for the power of the performances, and the strength of the characters in the novel that, despite the duplicity of Magnus, one cannot help but feel closer to Magnus and Axel than to Jack Brotherhood and the slimy Grant Lederer of U.S. Intelligence. I have read the book at least a dozen times, and watched the movie almost as many times, and continue to be mesmerized by both. If I had one book to take on a desert island, A Perfect Spy would be the choice above all others.