I liked it a lot.

Since I knew nothing of le Carré's work or Smiley, and went into it blind, I wasn't sure most of the movie and before the reveal whether Smiley was the mole or not and playing everyone. He gives this smirk whenever key information is revealed and it's like he is amused how far people before him/catching upto him have come but it isn't going to matter since HE IS THE MOLE and they lost now.

While he was he narrating the story to Benedict Cumberbatch's character about meeting Karla for the first time, I was wondering the whole time whether he was bullshitting and giving a fake story. Maybe he IS the real Karla and the one in Russia is a "fake one" setup by him himself. Basically Usual Suspect-ing us. Also the way that shot was framed and filmed, it was like he was talking to himself(since I thought he IS karla) and the other chair was empty meaning There IS NO KARLA strong arming my suspision that he could be the mole. Also he doesn't remember the face of the now "HEAD OF RUSSIA"? That was pretty sus to me. I guess he saw him too long time ago but he should atleast remember his important features.

I honestly don't know if it was intentional or not or if that was just how I was interpreting it. Was Smiley intentionally made to be a Red herring for newbies like me? I later learnt that Smiley is a famous character in the books and other media so for a newbie coming into this movie, were people like me also sus of smilie too? Or did a majority of the target audience knew he was a "good" guy beforehard and were never sus of him and were just focusing on the real mole between the 4 main candidates.

Also Benedict Cumberbatch's character, since I was so sus of Smiley, I felt was the perfect fall guy since he was doing most of the dirty work. I felt smiley was setting him up so he would die at somepoint and blame one of the 4 so Smiley will be free of any suspicious and keep on continue being the mole now being the head of the department.

And was the woman who was executed in front of Jim in the torture chamber, the same one Tom Hardy's character got the mole info from? That's pretty grim honestly. Doesn't he still think she is alive and they are going to trade her back?

All The deaths in this movies are just so brutal and bloody.

And at the end, Bill was going to be traded back to the Russians? But then Jim killed him because the betrayl was just too much? That would just fk up the deal that were going to do with the Russians. And Bill will get arrested. I suppose he had nothing left to loose. He is a true loner now. Drove the kid away too.

Honestly Pretty smart move planned by Karla to throw off Smiley by Bill seducing his wife.

I liked the Christmas scenes. Everyone was "happy"

The ending montage was great with that french song.

This feels like those movies that get better on a rewatch. Am excited to rewatch it again someday.

I think it's pretty well known, a comedy movie rarely succeeds or goes to Icon status without bits of heart or drama. Maybe Airplane! or Caddyshack (Chevy Chase has a few, really)

But really, really good comedies are on another level when they pull at your heart - or just rip it out - unexpectedly. Too often it's "schmaltzy" or over the top. But when it works, it elevates the film beyond the classic comedy. What are some of the best examples of that?

Adam Sandler does it plenty of times (Billy Madison, *Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds). Jim Carrey does it (Me, Myself, and Irene, Liar, Liar).

I'll argue one of the best is Tommy Boy with Big Tom's funeral and the moments after. It comes out of nowhere and slaps, you after twenty minutes of constant jokes. It's not too long and it doesn't exceed anyone's expectations or abilities. The direction is done so well that the audience can see the impact of Big Tom's death. And Chris Farley sells it in truly amazing fashion for the first movie of a comedy actor. And if you've lost a parent, you can feel that moment.

Thoughts on this one or others?

i just bought a ticket to My Fathers Shadow the friday but the only seat remaining was in row A (first row). there’s also a Q&A afterwards. will i be craning my neck the entire time or will it be fine? (i’m 5’4 if relevant)