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The Tailor of Panama [Blu-ray] | ![The Tailor of Panama [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m9DmvJtSL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Actors: Dylan Baker, Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Martin Ferrero, John Fortune
Studio: Sony Pictures
Buy New: $17.49
New (38) Used (8) from $11.99
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Blu-ray
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: COLBR17955
UPC: 043396179554
EAN: 0043396179554
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
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Product Description
Bluray Disc
Amazon.com
Tailors are the secret-keepers of the power elite; customize fine apparel for the rich and powerful, and you'll hear things only whispered in the halls of government. Such is the sly conceit of The Tailor of Panama, coadapted by John le Carre from his own novel, and directed by John Boorman with a delicious spin on the traditions of the spy genre. As British MI-6 agent Andy Osnard, Pierce Brosnan qualifies as James Bond's black-sheep sibling, viewing women only in terms of sexual conquest and conducting spy business by his own flexible set of rules. Banished to Panama to pay for recent indiscretions, Andy connects with Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), a British ex-convict who's built a lucrative cover as tailor to Panama's highest officials. With the coveted Panama canal now under local control, Andy's arrived to see what Harry knows about the canal's pending multinational sale.
As Andy observes, Panama is "Casablanca without heroes," and that's precisely how Boorman depicts it: a melting pot of greed, ambition, and backroom maneuvering, where Andy can bed an embassy official (Catherine McCormack) while squeezing information from Harry, who concocts a phony "silent opposition" that puts British and American forces on full alert. Harry's wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) is pulled into the scenario by Andy's ruthless scheming, and The Tailor of Panama reveals how a simple fabrication can provoke trigger-happy forces around the globe. Part comedy and part political horror thriller--with a tragic supporting role for Brendan Gleason, from Boorman's The General--this is old-fashioned spy stuff made new by le Carre's inventive plotting and keen ear for the dialogue of rogues. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 104 more reviews...
 Decent, Low-Key Spy Story May 29, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This is extremely low-key tale of a British spy sent to Panama to see who is going to control the Panama Canal. The public didn't care for this movie because it was so slow-moving. Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Gleeson and Catherine McCormick are all actors I find interesting so I enjoyed watching them and this film, in general.
My only objection was the normal bias, here making George Bush Sr., the British and the Americans look pushy and obnoxious in their dealings to control the locks.
The story is a bit confusing in spots but interesting enough to stay with for the entire 109 minutes. There are a few sexy scenes thrown in to help keep your attention. I was surprised at the number of f-words in this ottherwise-classy movie.
 Who is this Geoffrey Rush fella?? February 6, 2009
G. Morley (Salem OR USA)
I saw this film on DVD years ago, shortly after it came out. At that point in my apparently sheltered life, I had never seen nor heard of Geoffrey Rush. This was my very first exposure to him in any capacity. Well, all I could keep saying was -- where have they kept this guy hidden? He is an extraordinary actor! Not to short change Pierce, who gives an outstanding performance himself, but Mr. Rush steals the show for my money. I simply couldn't understand how such a gifted actor could fly beneath my radar for so long. Perhaps this was his first major motion picture, I guessed. Wrong! Anyway, the acting by the two male leads is superb, Jamie Curtis is great, the plot is complex and tricky, the dialogue and direction are first rate, and the cinematography and score are also excellent. All in all, I was very entertained by this film -- from opening scene to the credits. I can't ask for more from a motion picture. I think this film gets as many one star ratings as it does because too many people have been conditioned by Hollywood to where they are only entertained when there is non-stop action and lots of noise and special effects signifying very little when you add up the scorecard. If you are perhaps a tad more cerebral than your average Terminator fan, there is a very good chance that you will enjoy this film.
Fantastic! October 14, 2008
J. Walworth (Honolulu, HI & the world)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The best way to describe this movie is James Bond gone bad...I absolutely love this movie. Probably one of the most underrated movies in the last 10 years. Put together an all-star cast with a twisting story line and the exotic, beautiful, and dangerous backdrop of Panama and you have a great movie. If Saville Row means nothing to you and you aren't intrigued by the seedy world of espionage, look elsewhere for entertainment. If this does spark your interest, sit back and enjoy some of the best lines in cinema ("It was just tight--from lack of use").
Woven Out of Whole Cloth September 16, 2008
F. S. L'hoir (Irvine, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've watched and enjoyed "The Taylor of Panama" several times now. It seems to represent co-producer John Le Carre's homage to Graham Greene, Ian Fleming, and a spoof on the spy genre-film in general (It even includes a humorous pot-shot at "Casablanca.").
Geoffrey Rush turns in a moving performance as Harry Pendel, the tailor, whose fantasy life makes him all too vulnerable for the enticements and blackmail of the seedy would-be, but never-actually-was, James Bond--Andrew Osnard, a burnt-out MI-Sixer, banished to Panama as punishment for peccadilloes in foreign postings [Pierce Brosnan does an engaging satire on his cinematic Bond aplomb.]. Between the fantasies of Pendel (whose dead but not-so-silent partner is portrayed by Harold Pinter) the situation soon gets out of hand and almost ruins Pendel's marriage (His wife is played by Jamie Lee Curtis.); it destroys his loyal Panamanian friends, and almost starts a war. And while Osnard and most of his colleagues prove to be as corruptible as they are mendacious, the tailor finally comes clean with his wife and mends his marriage.
Behind the satire is one of Le Carre's favorite topics, the willingness of Intelligence services to believe what they want (in this case the presence of a "silent opposition" to the local government), and, in the name of expediency, to spin the most tenuous threads into colorful yarns that they then weave into plausible fabrics and preposterous fabrications. Le Carre therefore seems to be suggesting that the various intelligence services with their vested interests are all accomplished tailors.
 The art of storytelling January 28, 2008
Rec Puyol (Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Pierce Brosnan plays a British spy in this film but in a closer-to-reality scenario. No gadgets, no powerful weapons, no Aston Martin's. Okay, he gets to drive a BMW for about 5 minutes, but without the surface-to-air missiles. And fine, he still gets the ladies... Despite the lack of intense action the story is intriguing and clever. Everyone has their own interests in mind and it's amazing and sometimes funny to see what they will say and do to get things to work in their favor. Definitely an entertaining film. The Blu-Ray version is an improvement over the DVD version, but I have seen better quality video in other Blu-Ray releases.
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