The Looking Glass War

Typically convoluted Cold War espionage antics from Le Carré. Fine and quirky while the young Polish defector (Jones) selected as a pawn in the espionage game is guided through his training process by a series of bored eccentrics, with delicious performances from Rogers and Richardson (one nursing a permanent cough, the other a mad glint in his eye) as the Blimpish security chiefs hankering for the good old days when they weren't just a Civil Service backwater, and dreaming of the grand come-back they are busily setting in motion. But with the mission itself comes a swift descent into banal action, totally tedious as the sense of authenticity is dissipated in a welter of incredibly silly dialogue spoken by incredibly silly characters.