I have ordered this after someone told me about it. Does anyone have something to say about this mini-series?
shareBased on a emotion provoking novel, it is a pretty good telling of the story of Magnus. I remember the first time I saw it, it brought a lump to my throat even though I knew what was about to happen. Take your time watching it, the performances are superb. If you miss something watch the episode again. The empathy and affection you will develop for Magnus is worthwhile.
"Empathy and affection you will develop for Magnus" ???
Magnus was a TRADER that should've been hung 35 yrs earlier; after he STOLE & gave military intel to Axel the commie, who played him for the chump he was.
All he did was CHEAT the hangman, Perfect spy? More like a Benedict Arnold.
Oh, & let's blame it all on his daddy... (poor little boy)
Anybody out there have a rotten dad or have a rotten childhood? Does this give you the 'right' or the excuse to go live a rotten life? OR commit treason? COME ON!
You can have good or bad parents & be a rotten sort or bad parents & a good one, YOUR CHOICE!
Remember, when he went crying like a little girl to his old school chum & told him that he was the one that got him into trouble way back when? HE did it & LIKED the thrill it gave him! HE paddled his own canoe. He felt no sorrow that could have led him to changing his way... he liked the duplicity & went for more.
& then he writes a lame letter to his son... IF you got a rotten dad be a good one to your son.
Or, take Magnus' example & go commit treason for over 3 decades & then shoot yourself... yeah, real smart! (probably gave his landlady a heart attack)
And how about how he cheated his wife, Mary, out of a decent life? Miserable Jerk!
Like I said, all that pathetic trader-scum weasel did was CHEAT the Hangman!
EMPATHY & AFFECTION? I developed sickness & disgust for him, too bad he didn't shoot himself decades earlier.
Glad you enjoyed it. If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend the novel. The mini-series was quite faithful to the original material.
The only second chance you get is to make the same mistake twice. - David Mamet
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Hi!
Excellent of course but do not forget the other Le Carré's as "Smiley's people" and "Tinker, taylor..." with Alec Guiness.
By the way, in "Perfect spy" has anyone an idea where is really located the gloomy sea-resort, Magnus' last dugout?
THX
Robert
Almost Perfect, because, Pym explains Betrayal as renewal at Corfu.
His father is a drag on old Magnus, which leads to the confession with the homo
friend-of-yore schooldays.
His beach hideaway ? What did the book say ?
This series is first class BBC 80's material. The acting is more than excellent and the atmosphere for locations like Berlin and Bern is perfect. You may find it a bit slow; don't expect 007 action movies. Character development is the key issue in this series.
I was very happy getting the DVDbox and to be able to watch it after 20+ years. It was never disappoining. There were so many scenes I remembered in detail. Very faithful to the Lecarre novel. Better than the Smiley series.
Wow..better than the Smiley series?? I have not seen this film but those are bold words that have me very interested in seeing this now!
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I ordered this series shortly after reading this thread. It is very good and everything you could come to expect from Le Carre. I dont know if I would go so far as saying its better than the Smiley Series (TTSS & SP), it is definitely damn good. My favorite aspect of the movie was the relationship between Magnus and Axel, very complex and well played. I am glad to have this in my collection.
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I think the most haunting quote of the series for me is Axel yelling "Pym you bastard!", I'm sure you know the part I speak of. Not only is that a memorable line, but a VERY powerful scene.
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So glad you have seen it.
For me, and also my father (incidentally but also quite spookily), the single best drama I have seen made for television. An outstanding representation of the book. Everything about it, from the stark grays of The East to 'Underneath the Arches' is exceptional.
Compare this to any modern 'thriller' drama, and it stands proud.
Perhaps, due to the Novel being my favourite Le Carre, I am very biased, but have never recommended it personally to anyone without a very positive reception.
I'm almost finished with the series. Tonight I'll see the last two episodes. Magnus Pym was somewhat duplicitous, and played it to the hilt. That's why this series is so amazing -a credit to everyone involved, especially the actor playing M.P. While there were many moments that I had to repeat because I couldn't quite get what was going on, it was well worth it. A Perfect Spy is one of the best of its genre. Having just finished reading Absolute Friends, I'm now a big Le Carre fan. Can't wait to read his new novel! Imagine, the man is still turning out incredible novels.
DO bear in mind when reading the book or watching the T.V. series that the early parts are amost an autobiographical story. John Le Carre's father was the very epitome of Rick and John WAS sent on strange trips on his Father's behalf to Switzerland to collect money. His childhood was pretty disfunctional, too!
John Le Carre writes superbly and the T.V. adaptation brings the book to life perfectly. It shows the complex relationships spies have with other people, how they cover up, deceive and cheat. It also shows the dilema they often feel when friendships from "the other side of the fence" become stronger then the ties to their home country. Was Pym blackmailed? Yes! But did he LET himself be blackmailed because he felt he owed Axel something... I think so!
He was perfect, especially when doing the "flick-blade eyes" while smiling. I read the criticism in the reviews of Mary's character not being up to par because a diplomat's wife would have been made of sterner stuff, but she wasn't really one of The Wives, as one of them point out to her in the novel. She's a phony, an ex-clerk who married up, but is treated as a Diplomats Wife only to give her husband cover.
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