This Anton Corbijn film of John Le Carré's novel is very good. Like all of the author's spy novels, it shows the real way that spycraft gets done in the real world, not the cartoonish shoot-em-ups that Hollywood produces. The story is tense and intricate, and the director has made sure that the realism of the plot and characters is matched by the sets, location shots and production values. Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding. We feel his angst, the weight of the past on his every decision, and the struggle between a tired realism and the professionalism that spurs him on. The Rachel McAdams character is a disppointment, probably because it is presented abruptly and devloped superficially, and possibly because she is miscast. Nina Hoss brings fresh air into each of her scenes.