"A Triple? I'm At Least a Quadruple"

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The line is from Tom Stoppard's Hapgood, a 1988 play about double and triple agents and quantum physics and making audiences feel lost and clueless. Aaah, for the simplicity of a story about the uncovering of a mere double! A popcorn movie in relative terms. TTSS being set in the '70s is like extra butter.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 4, 2011 at 8:03 AM

comment #1

EricGilde says ...

I remember reading somewhere a story about a reporter asking Tom Stoppard, during the original run of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," what his play was about.

To which he replied, "It's about to make me a lot of money."

Some of his stuff is indeed impenetrable semantic and intellectual acrobatics, but some breathtaking stuff in there, too.

That said, TTSS looks better and better to me every day.

Posted by EricGilde at August 4, 2011 8:59 AM

comment #2

mrk says ...

There is something hilarious about the fact that that video player makes you watch a trailer for that body-change comedy first.

(Also: the trailer for TTSS is ALREADY an ad... why do we need ad-sponsored ads??)

Posted by mrk at August 4, 2011 9:02 AM

comment #3

EricGilde says ...

It's a double agent!

Posted by EricGilde at August 4, 2011 9:05 AM

comment #4

littlebigman says ...

ERICGLIDE- You know what? I had exactly the opposite reaction. I was very much looking forward to this - to the Oldman performance in particular - and now it just seems to me to be rote and ordinary.
It's no THE SPY WHO CAM IN FROM THE COLD

Posted by littlebigman at August 4, 2011 10:25 AM

comment #5

Dan Revill says ...

littlebigman -

I don't think the book was rote and ordinary. La Carre knew how to play up the Cold War fears really well. I think that if the film even gets half of it right, then it will be a real treat. Reading it earlier this year, I got the feeling that there wasn't anything insignificant happening when it came to the main plot. Not every book can accomplish that.

Posted by Dan Revill at August 4, 2011 10:33 AM

comment #6

Jack South P.I. says ...

I'm thrilled it's set in the past because spy movies set in the past have to use old, outdated technology to help them complete their mission. Spy movies set in the present can invent any kind of crazy, James Bond-ian technology they want to get them out of any situation. Viewers assume they don't know what real spies use so anything is possible.

This looks like "The Grown Up Movie of the Year!"

Posted by Jack South P.I. at August 4, 2011 10:49 AM

comment #7

4th grade army says ...

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD -- The best spy story and best spy movie ever. TTSS is gonna be good and goddamn that trailer looks so rocknroll, but the story, like all Le Carre, is methodical, detailed and cerebral. That might prevent it from reaching a big audience. The greatness of this film will probably come down to the performances, photography and pacing. Just by the trailer, it looks like they already nailed two of them.

Posted by 4th grade army at August 4, 2011 12:41 PM

comment #8

Robert Cashill says ...

9/16? Well before the NY Film Festival if we're still on that, and likely outside of awards contention, too. Promising, though.

Posted by Robert Cashill at August 4, 2011 1:56 PM

comment #9

ZayTonday says ...

This looks AWESOME. I'll be there on day 1.

Posted by ZayTonday at August 5, 2011 6:37 AM

comment #10

ZayTonday says ...

I don't know why the trailer is using Inception copycat music though.

Posted by ZayTonday at August 5, 2011 6:37 AM

comment #11

Rainna says ...

I agree with Dan Revill. I don't think the book was rote and ordinary. One of my friend said that when she was purchasing a louis vuitton monogram wallets , she saw the ads of the movie.

Posted by Rainna at August 7, 2011 11:06 PM

comment #12