Given that John Le Carre is credited as Executive Producer and co-writer, with Andrew Davies and director John Boorman, of this adaptation of his novel then fidelity is assured. But even he has to admit the debt he owes to Graham Greene and "Our Man in Havana" of which this can be seen as a prescient remake.
Pierce Brosnan is Andy Osnard, the disgraced MI6 agent banished to Panama for his sins. In order to justify his existence he needs information and settles on Harry Pendel, tailor and former jailbird down on his luck. But Harry is even more desperate than Andy and like Wormold before him the information he supplies becomes ever more fanciful and dangerous. But where the jokes in Greene's 'Havana' soured into tragedy, here the tragedy is closer to (very) black comedy and very funny it is, too. With marvellous performances from Geoffrey Rush as Harry and Brosnan in a career-best turn and flawless direction from John Boorman, this is a crisp, pertinent and hugely enjoyable entertainment.
Pierce Brosnan is Andy Osnard, the disgraced MI6 agent banished to Panama for his sins. In order to justify his existence he needs information and settles on Harry Pendel, tailor and former jailbird down on his luck. But Harry is even more desperate than Andy and like Wormold before him the information he supplies becomes ever more fanciful and dangerous. But where the jokes in Greene's 'Havana' soured into tragedy, here the tragedy is closer to (very) black comedy and very funny it is, too. With marvellous performances from Geoffrey Rush as Harry and Brosnan in a career-best turn and flawless direction from John Boorman, this is a crisp, pertinent and hugely enjoyable entertainment.