The Ipcress File (2022) User Reviews

Turned out to be a high quality drama in all departments

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 8/10 · 6 March 2022]

New six part TV adaptation of Len Deighton's classic spy thriller with the protagonist spy Harry Palmer played so memorably by Michael Caine in the 1965 film.

I liked it, excellent period detailing, a snappy soundtrack, a strong ensemble cast throughout, so stylish and a script as sharp as Harry Palmer's suits. Production values were high and it was really well directed.

Joe Cole vs. Michael Caine - well who was ever going to top Caine? But he put up a good fight and played it well in his own understated way - Lucy Boynton was a revelation and Tom Hollander also excelled. All round a winner and the ending was satisfying and very neatly done.

Congrats to all involved, can see a few Bafta's heading its way..

Well worth watching.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 22 June 2022]

I didn't believe my ears when I heard that ITV were going to make this into a six part series, my hopes weren't high, hence why I'm so late to The Party. I'm always happy to eat humble pie, I was very wrong not to watch this, it's a cracking series.

It's of course very hard not to make comparisons between this and the film, both are very different beasts, let's just deal with this on its own merits.

The six part format allows the story to really develop, and whilst a few liberties are taken, the essence is there.

It's fast paced, it's dramatic, it's well acted, it looks divine. I think the cinematography is the best element, if like me you love shows from the 60's and 70's, you'll love how it looks, the camera angles and shots, the cars and fashions, it's decadent.

Prepare for car chases, brain washing, shootouts, it was like stepping back in time.

Acting, very strong, Cole and Boynton are great, and both play it as though from the time, really impressed with Tom Hollander and Ashley Thomas, excellent also.

On this basis, please ITV get some more novels adapted.

Very good 8/10.

Overly negative reviews here

[degrees-33365 · 7/10 · 9 March 2022]

I think the reviews here are overly negative.

Sure, we all like to stand up for old movies with actors like Michael Cain and proudly announce how superior that is to anything that's new. This is also the people that think vinyl is superior due to the warmer sound....

I thought this show was pretty entertaining. Sure, it has its flaws - it struggles to find its place in comedy, drama and thriller - but does it have to be one thing?

And sure the angled camera shots gets REALLY old already half-way through episode one - but, I just felt that it added to the whole 'cartoonish' take on the story. It doesn't take itself too seriously. It has some fun with the source material.

I for one rather enjoyed the ride.

A solid Spy Drama

[kurtisbeacroft · 7/10 · 8 March 2022]

I enjoyed every episode, 1960's spy drama done right with great camera, lighting and sound work. The sort of thing the BBC used to make before the agenda driven drivel they roll out nowadays. Good on you ITV.

Excellent spy thriller

[yooniverse · 9/10 · 10 March 2022]

While some may be overly critical of this show by comparing it to the classic 1965 movie, I think this show can stand on its own. I loved the "vintage" cinematic look they achieved. They could have done something atrocious as many remakes do, of "re-imagining" to the modern era (and they certainly could have--the cold war is back). As this show sets out to be a very different animal than the earlier classic, there's no need to compare.

The story moves quickly and smoothly, though it meanders a bit in the middle episodes to establish a second arc. But very little is wasted; no unnecessary side arcs, no eyerolling overtures to politically correctness or woke agenda. It stays laser-focused on telling the story.

The acting is very good if not excellent. Cole doesn't fit the stereotype British agent, but he makes it work, though he deadpans most scenes. Boynton is well cast as a beautiful but cold and bitter agent who warms up to Palmer in a believable way, and really carries the show. Hollander gives an excellent performance, as well, as a pragmatic veteran spook who finds himself trapped by his past.

I'm not sure if they will fabricate a second series, but this first one can stand alone very nicely.

sympathy for the writer

[A_Different_Drummer · 7/10 · 27 March 2022]

A writer writes. A novel. When it comes to his novel, the characters, the flow, the exposition, he is God. It is his universe. A film studio buys the rights. A 2 hour movie is made compressing the story and exposition. It is a hit. A star is launched. It is iconic. Time passes. Looking for content, a production company redoes the novel as a miniseries. It has to maintain the vibe in an extended time format and fight the stereotyping of the main character for those who remember. Given the above, this is a competent effort. The two main stars are excellent. Boynton in particular seems more at home in the 60s than those of us who are actually from the 60s. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Excellent

[a_mobbs · 8/10 · 14 March 2022]

I have just seen episode two and this is getting better and better. Hard not to compare to the original, but the leads all do a good job. A slow burner, yes, and not for anyone who lives at a fast pace. But an evolving story, believable characters and on gripping plot. Sit down, bin your phone and watch this.

Bloody Good Show!

[Cornlogger · 7/10 · 30 June 2022]

I liked it rather a lot really. The series looked great with top notch video quality and sound. The homage to the original camera angles and all was fun as was the period costume and cars.

I thought the actors all did a great job, including Lucy Boynton. I see some reviewers criticized her here, which is unfounded. She is a talented actress who happens to be a beautiful, blue-eyed blond. What are ya? A bunch of fairies?

As usual these days, the creators of this version turned the bad guys into the Americans rather than the Brits in the original movie. The main villain is now an American Air Force officer, a radical Christian with overtones of racism who got off on fire bombing Tokyo. Sigh... Meanwhile, the Soviets were portrayed as calm and rational. Who won the Cold War again?

After the fourth episode, I bought the Kino Lorber blu-ray of the original movie. It was great, an excellent video upgrade with some nice extras. Michael Caine was was terrific and the blu-ray had a funny interview with him. I would highly recommend this blu-ray to fans of the original.

Anyway, this series deviated from the original in a lot of ways. It downplayed Harry's role into more of a victim and elevated Jean's role and that of the CIA guys. The usual Hollywood stuff, trying to make a show based on a 1960s movie match modern entertainment standards. Whaddya gonna do?

Sorry to prattle on a bit. Still, despite it's shortcomings, I enjoyed it. Cheers!

Period Spy Drama

[rich-mac · 9/10 · 28 March 2022]

I see a few detractors, but for me, The Ipcress File mini-series remake was a great period spy drama.

This kind of show is a sum of its parts proposition. As a spy drama the story can't be too straight forward, it must deliver intrigue, conceal its feints, and deliver twists and turns.

I liked the original movie, but this mini-series earned its way too, and delivered. The period elements were also extremely well observed, from the ambience of early 60s cities and sets, through to the quality of lighting and filming that evoked a 60s spy romp and a little of the classic uncompromising and unsentimental quality of spy action and intrigue.

Each of the leads had moments to take centre stage and for the story to revolve around their role, something that for the most part worked well, with perhaps just a couple of lapses of awareness as to the possibilities of interpretation of what had transpired or was transpiring - but that is a criticism of script and not acting.

If you like a classic spy yarn, The Ipcress File shouldn't disappoint.

Palmers Green.

[southdavid · 6/10 · 12 April 2022]

I've seen the Michael Caine movie a few times, but not for a while and had only a vague recollection as to what its actually about. My thoughts are that there was much in this new ITV adaptation that I didn't recognise at all - though cursory research suggests that this is because a number of subplots and other stories were added to increase the running time.

In the 1960's, a British scientist is kidnapped by Eastern Bloc forces for his expertise in Nuclear weapon technology. Major Dalby (Tom Hollander) recruits a disgraced but resourceful former solider, Harry Palmer (Joe Cole) to utilise his contacts in East Berlin to retrieve the target. The relatively simple recovery operation quickly expands as Palmer and his partner Jean Courtney (Lucy Boynton) try to discover who, from their allies and their opponents, they can actually trust.

I thought that this version of the story was fine. I liked the 60's recreation and I liked how that same aesthetic was used for the show - in the credits sequence, for example. I liked the performances. It's quite a mannered performance from all involved, stiff upper lips of the sort of class of people involved in international espionage. I've seen other people be critical of Joe Cole, but I think this suits his natural cadence and accent more than say "Gangs of London" does.

I occasionally found the story a little difficult to stick with, I'm still confused as to the actual motivations of Paul Maddox, played by Ashley Thomas. Though it's not a particularly confusing plot, just that there is a lot of double and triple crosses to stick with as the story plays out. Pacing wise I could have done without some aspects of the Bikini Atoll section of the story, though I understand that it was required to get Palmer into a vulnerable location.

I didn't love it unconditionally; it meanders a bit too much for my taste, but it was no chore to get through.

Classic Cold War series - ignore the imdb haters that cannot see past the film

[HarbingerUK · 8/10 · 19 March 2022]

I have binged this like I haven't for ages. Imdb gives very mixed reviews and compares it to the film a lot. The film is a classic but hasn't really held up to time.

This doesn't take away from the film and the plot is as solid as ever.

I really like the cast and the main leads are stellar.

The female leads are what stand out for me however as the focus isn't solely on Palmer, but subtly he takes a second to Jean's character who doesn't put a foot wrong and Lucy Boynton is both talented and stunning.

If you like classic drama done well watch this.

The 60s like 60s TV

[tim-137-552735 · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

I'm not sure about this, and have some scruples about the acting, but for those who have some memories of The Avengers, The Champions and other stylised programmes, then it makes sense. There is also homage to the original film. Lucy Boynton captures the look and spirit of how young women such as Jean Shrimpton and Julie Christie were seen. The camera angles and direction are also straight out of the 60s. This may all be intentional, if not it's a happy accident.

Watch the film

[aniffwebb-12-347363 · 2/10 · 11 April 2022]

Any resemblance to the Michael Caine film is purely coincidental. Promised much but delivered little. Such a shame as I was looking forward to seeing this interpretation a lost opportunity with a quality cast.

Joe's a bit of a Maurice minor

[thom59 · 6/10 · 31 October 2022]

The Ipcress file (2022) is an enjoyable TV series featuring Len Deighton's protagonist. That said, there were a couple of niggling issues that, when seen, can't be unseen.

1. The extensive use of the Dutch angle- a camera technique that was used by the German expressionists in the 1920's. Essentially, the more tilt the more unsettling the director wishes the viewer to feel. Some of my favorite films-the Matrix, Pulp Fiction employ it. Here, however, at times it was employed in almost every single scene.

2. In the novel Deighton's protagonist is nameless, the character's name was actually chosen by Caine himself. Caine also chose to wear glasses because, according to trivia, he expected this movie to be the first of a franchise, similar to the Bond movies. Here, Cole not only wears Caine's iconic specs he also employs many of Palmer mannerisms Caine perfected in the movie.

So, is Joe Cole playing Michael Caine or Len Deighton's protagonist? This feels like a TV series of the original movie. It's good. But there is only one Maurice Micklewhite.

Such a brilliant homage, ignore the haters.

[barryjames-mc · 10/10 · 23 March 2022]

Brilliantly shot, Cole is superb as Harry, the references to the original movie, one of my favourite all time movies, are fantastic. It looks amazing, the scenery, the clothes, it's all just so beautifully done. A great take on Deighton's character, great soundtrack and a wonderful tribute to the original director. I can't understand the haters, is it political? There are shades of modern politics, particularly the far-right Christian fundamentalist American, sounds familiar right? But maybe I'm reading too much into it. Bottom line, this is definitely the best show I've seen this year. Joe Cole is just incredible. All the nonsense about wooden acting is utter rubbish. Give it a chance, it's well worth it.

Don't compare!

[marco-tremble · 8/10 · 8 March 2022]

You can't compare this to an excellent movie made in the 60s.

This is of its time and more faithful to book and the casting is not as bad as some of the other reviews would make you think.

Watch it and make your own mind up! Don't let the detractors brainwash you!

That's a job for the Ipcress file.

A great remake

[jackyjal · 7/10 · 8 March 2022]

I've really enjoyed this. Unlike most people I never thought Michael Caine was right for the part but that's just me. I think Joe Cole is excellent as are the rest of the cast. The period is captured very well apart from the one mistake that is so common in most modern series portraying this era. In the 50s/60s nobody drank out of a bottle especially in bars, pubs or nightclubs. This is a peculiarly modern phenomena. Even drinking out of a can was thought very common.

Excellent Remake

[howard-shenton · 8/10 · 26 March 2022]

ITV have done a good job on Len Deighton's cold war thriller. Lots of fun period detail: beehives, Ford Zodiacs, Routemasters, Sten guns, etc and we even get Michael Caine's glasses for good measure. Joe Cole is a very decent Harry Palmer, and the whole thing is held together by the always watchable Tom Hollander as Dalby. Enjoyable!

Still Love Michael Caine

[johnwwwatson · 6/10 · 24 March 2022]

Having finished The Ipcress File 2022 Episode 1, I just had to watch my copy of Michael Caine's 1965 The Ipcress File and we know who's is the best but I stress, like the many remakes of Heaven Can Wait, I like Warren Beatty's 1978 because that's my generation as Robert Montgomery's 1941 original "Here Comes Mr Jordan" was my grandparent's favorite. If you have never seen Michael Caine cutting his teeth in The Ipcress File 1965, only a year after his first real lead in "Zulu" 1964, watch it! That said and repeated, Stop complaining about remakes! The only way to keep a good story alive is to retell it. Let people decide to research and find prior versions. I will be watching each episode of The Ipcress File 2022 because it is a good story!

The Ipcress File Reopened

[ShadeGrenade · 8/10 · 9 March 2022]

With the Russian invasion of the Ukraine dominating the world news, ITV have not chosen a good time to screen this much-publicised remake of Len Deighton's 1960's Cold War drama, previously filmed in 1965 with Michael Caine as the bespectacled British spy 'Harry Palmer'. Anyway, I gave it a chance and thought it got off to a decent start. The film also took liberties with the book so once cannot complain about the series following suit. We got to see Palmer in his army days, when he got arrested ( for black marketeering ) and imprisoned, followed by his recruitment by British Intelligence. There was a reason why he was given the task of tracking down enemy agent 'Housemartin' ( Palmer had met him once before ) in order to negotiate the return of the kidnapped atomic scientist Professor Dawson. The executive producers were Steven and Hilary Saltzman, whose late father Harry produced the original franchise. I had feared the series would go down the James Bond road but thankfully that has not happened. The first episode was stylish and kept my attention throughout,. Joe Cole had the tough job of replacing Caine, but worked out well. 'Jean Courtney' , a major character in the film ( Sue Lloyd was terrific ) , benefits greatly from the extra running time. The inclusion of a black American agent isn't a new idea though. Thomas Baptiste played 'Barney' in the first film.

A few complaints, however. John Barry's music was missed, and the actor playing 'Dalby' ( Tom Hollander ) was not a patch on Nigel Green, who played the role in the film. Where was Colonel Ross? He was a major character in the book/film, and he is ignored here. What's Colonel Stok doing in this story? He comes from a later book 'Funeral In Berlin'.

Reservations aside, I hope the remaining episodes will be as good as the first.

This is so boring

[peter-gaunt2 · 7 March 2022]

It's so monotonous like a six hour opera all on one droning note. I've given 3* because I like some of the actors. Let's hope the leads get something better to get their teeth into soon.

Above-average fare

[djohnson-97143 · 7/10 · 9 March 2022]

I'm surprised at the poor reviews.

I found the acting to be good (Cole) to very good (Holland), the script generally serviceable rather than clunky and expositional (as is the case in most British TV series, sadly) and, despite the inevitable anomalies, the makers have created a credible and plausible 60s ambience and setting.

And although it's not as good as the film, and is inevitably eager to burnish its woke credentials to a new audience, it is certainly a cut above the usual vacuous dross we have to endure on a Sunday evening.

What just happened?

[philarmy · 5/10 · 13 April 2022]

This is my first ever review. I'm no film buff or art critic, by any stretch of the imagination.

I was impressed by how it was set in the 50s/60s and filmed in such a way as to reproduce the style of the times.

However, the storyline became very vague in places and often had my wife and I wondering if we had missed parts.

Very well made, but left us confused and losing interest.

Not to be confused with the original

[Vindelander · 7/10 · 9 March 2022]

It's ok if you overlook the total miscasting of Cole and Hollander. If you've seen the original characters of Dolby and Palmer in the classic film this will inevitably be a disappointment.

It's too long imo but it's an ok watch and evokes the 1960's era quite well with good location filming. Not a patch on the serialised version of Tinker Tailor though.