On paper, spy stories should be intriguing and thrilling - except when le Carre is putting the words on the paper. The writer is far more interested in the minute, boring details of spy work than in telling a good story. And so it goes here, with spies, counter spies, double agents, counter double agents, counter-counter tinker-tailer, etc. embroiled in a dreary and muddled story about the cold war. This snooze fest came out the same year as "Thunderball," which, while not a great movie by any means, is at least fun. The romantic subplot between Burton (looking bored) and Bloom (looking lovely) is so poorly developed that it's hard to believe she would be so devoted to him.
Review of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
