User Reviews

The astonishing true story of Sidney Reilly, the Ukrainian-born secret agent and model for James Bond who spied against Russia for more countries than most people visit in a lifetime.

Known as Ace of Spies - he was Ukrainian-born and a secret agent employed by Scotland Yard's Special Branch and later by the Foreign Section of the British Secret Service Bureau, the precursor to the modern MI6.

Reilly is considered to be the dominating figure in the mythology of modern British espionage. So he was a pretty cool guy :)

This documentary also indicates that Western and Russian Intelligence officers should work together - and not against each other - and create a new agency, a fusion between English and Russian Intelligence agencies, so to speak, to further International Peacebuilding and Human Evolution; as the ideal situation should be, that we will not need any spy agencies at all in the near future, as we will all live in Peace and Harmony :)

PS: It should also be noted that the borders of both Ukraine and Russia have been internationally recognized and defined in 1991 - with Russia's President Boris Yeltsin recognizing Ukraine's independence.

Hence Russia should honour this agreement.

We encourage the People of Russia to restore Peace, by withdrawing all troops from Ukrainian territory, and making Vladimir Putin resign from office, so that Peace Talks can commence :)

Visually the film is beautiful, alternating between stark black and white imagery and repurposed old film footage to saturated, graphic collages; which along with an eerie, ambient score add urgency and danger with deft insight into a man who remains unknowable. What we do know, thanks to the director and historians interviewed - Is a fascinating, impassioned and disturbing portrait of a major part in history. Wallerstein never glorifies Reilly, the shadowy anti-hero whose enigmatic narrative (some of his own questionable creation) and whose fascinating unquestionable place in espionage history has influenced writers like Ethel Boole and Ian Fleming. Fittingly, Reilly's own fictions about his identity are far more believable than the trail of his exploits, subterfuge and mastery in this sophisticated exploration of espionage pre-technological advances.

Despite the fantastic story, Reilly's own history (particularly in its fictions) is recognizable as a take on a classic immigration story - Heavily reinvented to survive and create the life or lives that he wanted...In Reilly's case, often at whatever cost to whom or whatever was in his way. The film's release is also incredibly timely, drawing connections from Reilly's lifetime and life's work to the events of modern day Ukraine, Russia and surveillance (often voluntarily on our ends) in this day and age. "Spymaster: The True Story of Sidney Reilly" is an exceptional film about a fascinating, almost unbelievable story. I deeply look forward to the director's next film.

Another exaggerated biography. Seems the Pentagon are too busy inserting propagate and one sided stories into Hollywood to create superhero, for publicity and marketing, so more people are fooled into joining the army or becoming spies. Literally over glamorizing these jobs and exaggerating their exploits. There is even a documentary that shows how the Pentagon and military are in cohoots with Hollywood to push an agenda. Yet when China or Russia makes same movie, it is called exaggerating or too nationalistic or over-heroic. Hollywood has just gone downhill with these movies and tv series.... It's just not a believable tv series.