Amy Biancolli of the San Francisco Chronicle says "Gary Oldman...gives the performance of his life as owlish old George, conveying such low-key patience and unflappability that you'll hardly notice he's holding you spellbound. This Smiley is a man badly underestimated by the people around him, an observer of detail who moves slowly and compels the world to do likewise. Just watch Oldman unwrap a mint, and prepare to be awed." Read more. Amy Taubin of Artforum called this film "Worthy of Hitchcock at his best."
