Wednesday 4 November 2015

Thursday Movie Picks: Secret Agents and Spies

 My first thought for this theme was 'YES!' but then I struggled for while thinking what I could pick so I went for random choices. I did really want to pick 'Burn After Reading' but that might be for a different sort of category altogether. I was also very tempted to include my latest obsession, 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E' but I thought, save it for another day.

Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.

OSS: Cairo Nest of Spies
After I saw The Artist, I sought out Michel Hazanavicius' previous films and to my delight his hit film and sequel were spoof spy stories set in the 1950's. Agent OSS 117 (Jean Dujardin) is sent to track down a missing agent who then literally stumbles upon international intrigue, that somehow involves everyone from the Soviets to some Nazis.A favourite scene invloves a light switch and chickens.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The film has it all really, spies, moles, secrets a great cast and its set in London. British agent, Smiley is charged with trying to find the Soviet double agent at the British Secret Service. I know Alec Guinness played Smiley first (one of my Dad's favourite TV shows) but I do love Oldman in this. It was good to see him with his British accent.

The 39 Steps
The book, the films, the TV adaptations and the play. My favourites are the Hitchcock film and the hilarious play, it's just pure brilliance. I should mention, I haven't read the book. A man ends up helping a secret agent only to have her killed in his home. From there he's on the run, climbing out of moving trains, scrambling around the Scottish moors and trying to uncover the secrets of a spy organisation while trying to stop them from getting important information. Pure Hitchcock all over.