The Tailor of Panama (2001)

A tailor living in Panama reluctantly becomes a spy for a British Agent.

Director:

John Boorman

Writers:

John le Carré (novel), Andrew Davies (screenplay)

Stars:

Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierce Brosnan	...	Osnard
Geoffrey Rush	...	Harry
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Louisa
Leonor Varela	...	Marta
Brendan Gleeson	...	Mickie Abraxas
Harold Pinter	...	Uncle Benny
Catherine McCormack	...	Francesca
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Mark
Lola Boorman	...	Sarah
David Hayman	...	Luxmore
Mark Margolis	...	Rafi Domingo
Martin Ferrero	...	Teddy
John Fortune	...	Maltby
Martin Savage	...	Stormont
Edgardo Molino	...	Juan-David

Storyline

John LeCarre's spy thriller is brought to the big screen. A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a criminal past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The tailor also has a wife, who works for the canal administrator, and a huge debt. The spy's mission is to learn what the President intends to do with the Panama Canal, but he's really in business for himself, blackmailing the tailor into spinning a fantastic tale about the canal being sold to China and former mercenaries ready to topple the current government.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | watching tv | nipple slip | female nudity | fondling | 

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Taglines:

In a place this treacherous, what a good spy needs is a spy of his own.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Production Notes

Country:

USA Ireland

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

El sastre de Panamá

Filming Locations:

Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Panama City, Panama

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,837,068, 1 April 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,729,742, 3 July 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,278,720, 3 July 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation,Merlin Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Tailor" of the film's title, is played by Geoffrey Rush. His character's name is Harry Pendel.

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Goofs

Savile Row, a street famous for its tailoring establishments in central London and mentioned many times in the film, is misspelled "Saville" on the computer screen that Osnard scans on the flight.

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Quotes

[first lines]
MI.6 Handler: Panama.
Andrew 'Andy' Osnard: Panama?
MI.6 Handler: Best I could do Andrew. Under the circumstances, given your sins. They were baying for blood.

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Connections

References Goldfinger (1964)

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Soundtracks

La Gallina Fina
Written by Christian Garcia
Performed by Samy Sandoval y Sandra Sandoval
Courtesy of SSS Records

User Reviews

Exciting and Cynical, LeCarre at His Best

There are no heroes or villains in "The Tailor of Panama," only exploiters and victims. Some may be turned off by the cynical tone of the film. For example, Andy Osnard, the British secret agent, played by Pierce Brosnan (who else?) is a scheming sociopath, not a patriotic hero. The title character, Harry Pendel, played by Geoffrey Rush, is a liar and an ex-convict. Don't be put off by these flawed characters, though. In the great tradition of John LeCarre's characters, these devious, selfish people are endlessly interesting -- and believable. I suspect that those who did not like this film reacted as they did because of a lack of heroes and because the outcome of the machinations it depicts are sadly grotesque. Nevertheless, this is the thinking person's spy movie. Highly recommended, 8 out of 10.