Rating: 
Summary: Less a potboiler than a pot-simmerer.
Review: With "The Tailor of Panama," John Le Carre and John Boorman serve up a heaping portion of Graham Greene Lite--moderately tasty, undeniably cynical and worldly-wise, and pretty much forgettable. As Andy Osnard, Pierce Brosnan plays a character who could be James Bond's evil twin (or Thomas Crown's, for that matter). He strong-arms Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), a poor cash-strapped schmuck whose life as a society tailor in Panama City is built on a tissue of lies, into providing him information about the current Panamanian government and the disposition of the Panama Canal. Since there isn't enough information to keep Andy happy, Harry starts inventing outrageous lies which Andy cynically exploits, knowing their falsity. The predictable chaos ensues, with the innocent bystanders including Jamie Lee Curtis as Harry's suspicious wife and Brendan Gleeson as a drunken former freedom fighter. The story and acting are just entertaining enough to keep you watching, and the plot builds up some excitement at the end, if not quite enough. The end also asks you to swallow a few yawning gaps (i.e. how did Andy get from one place to another so handily?). The movie efficiently does its job of proving the corollary of Vince Lombardi's maxim (i.e. if nice guys finish last, nasty guys must logically finish first), but it doesn't quite enlist your emotional involvement in the proof.
Rating:
Summary: "Tailor" makes a perfect fit
Review: "The Tailor of Panama" is a brooding, mysterious, slow paced, and malicious film. It's not really a noir film, but it carries that spirit. It's a dark film with interesting characters, and carefully planned twist and turns. The Panama in this movie is a place we are told that is like "Casablanca, without heroes." Pierce Brosnan is cast as Andy Osnard a secret agent who is sent to Panama for his sins. He gambles, he drinks too much, and he's a womanizer. Does this sound like the traits of another secret agent Brosnan played? If you answered yes, then you'll be able to get more "fun" out of this movie than thoughs who are not familiar with the James Bond series. The directing by John Boreman really sets the mood that makes this movie so enjoyable. You never really know which way this movie is going to go. Something just doesn't add up you might think to yourself. Why is this character doing this or that? But, right when you think you got it all figured out, that's when you see just how wrong you are. Geoffrey Rush is a tailor (Harry Pendel) who Osnard (Brosnan) meets while in Panama. They have a special relationship which deals with secrets. The movie is about the Panama canal and how the U.S wants to get it back from Panama. That is all the information I will give away concerning the story. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Louisa Pendel, who happens to be invloved with the activities relating to the canal. The screenplay by John Le Carre (Who's novel this is based on), Andrew Davies and the director himself is a very smart, sharp, witty, and intelligent. I really can't understand why so many people have decided to stay away from this movie. The only reason I can think of is people may feel it's too smart for them. This is not meant as an insult, and is not intended to offend anyone. I've heard many people say they like to go see a movie where they don't have to think. I think that's what happened here. But people just don't know what they're missing. This is a great movie, with characters that really impressed me. I enjoyed watvhing these people on screen. If anything go see this movie for the acting.
Rating: 
Summary: A 007 antihero? Bond would be scandalized.
Review: THE TAILOR OF PANAMA is the film adaptation of one of John le Carré's more recent literary spy thrillers - though perhaps thriller is a bit of an overstatement. Because the author also served as the executive producer of the screen rendition, the two versions bear a reasonable likeness to one another, a Hollywood curiosity in itself.At the film's outset, MI6 bad boy spook Andy Osnard, played by Pierce Brosnan, is being bundled off to the British embassy in post-Noriega Panama. It's no secret that this backwater posting is punishment for Andy's penchant for gambling and diplomats' wives, all of which have left the Service seriously unamused. Nevertheless, once established in the embassy and the bed of a sexy embassy staffer, Andy proceeds to report back on the country's political buzz, based on insider knowledge coaxed from a haberdasher to the ruling elite named Harry Pendel, played by Geoffrey Rush. Furthermore, as luck would have it, Harry's American-born wife, Louisa (Jamie Lee Curtis), is conveniently employed as an advisor to the Director of the recently nationalized Panama Canal Company. Taking advantage of such contacts, Andy's suitably embellished intelligence summaries sent back to his London controller soon take on a life of their own, and arouse the concerned attention of Her Majesty's Government and that of Uncle Sam. After all, we can't allow The Ditch to become inaccessible to the English-speaking superpowers, can we? And what are those inscrutable Japanese up to? One of the more delicious elements of this movie is watching Pierce personate the devious and unprincipled Osnard. He's positively reptilian in a charming sort of way. (One has to believe that the casting for Andy's role was done tongue-in-cheek, considering Brosnan's previous appearances as the sexually irresistible, but always upright and noble, 007, James Bond.) Rush is splendid as the equally opportunistic and conniving Pendel. There's no protagonist here, and the viewers' sympathies will naturally gravitate to the misused women in the story, both Louisa and Harry's receptionist/secretary, the tragically scarred Marta. THE TAILOR OF PANAMA was filmed on location, so the ambience and "look" are lush and tropical. Consistent with a le Carré creation, the action is low key, and there's no high tech gadgetry to divert attention from the nuances of character and plot development. (Well, there is one scene with a coin-fed vibrating bed that's worth the price of admission.) This isn't a great film by any stretch, but its dark humor and the viewer's philosophical acceptance of government machinations may cause him/her to reflect on its plausibility and ask, "Well, why not?"
Rating:
Summary: "It's a game...Let's have some fun."
Review: Based on the novel by John LeCarre, this action-packed screenplay by Andrew Davies and LeCarre showcases Panama City in the heady times immediately before the Canal was turned over to Panamanian control. Andrew Osnard (Pierce Brosnan), a free-wheeling British intelligence officer in the doghouse with his superiors, is assigned to Panama to be sure that "the world's biggest trade gate does not fall into the wrong hands." Meeting tailor Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush) in his shop, Osnard observes that Pendel has contact with all the important members of the Panamanian government, the opposition, the press, and the diplomatic corps, and, using blackmail, recruits Pendel as a spy for Britain.
When the tailor does not discover any information and is squeezed for it (because he has debts due), he makes it up stories about a "silent opposition," the machinations of the French and Chinese to acquire the Canal, and the negotiations of a corrupt government for its sale. Soon American and British diplomats are arming and preparing for war to ensure that the Canal stays in "friendly" hands.
The plot is nearly identical to that of Graham Greene's famous novel and 1959 film of Our Man in Havana, and the viewer will find few, if any, surprises as the meddling by Osnard and Pendel unfolds. Lacking a strong plot, Director John Boorman has ensured that interest remains high, however, by filming on location in Panama City with its night life, festivals, and parties and by giving Osnard (Brosnan) a libido that controls his life. Attractive women, such as Francesca (Catherine McCormack) at the British Embassy and even Pendel's wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) fall under his spell, and more than a few "Janet Jackson moments" keep the viewer tantalized.
A glitzy film which offers plenty of exotic atmosphere, violence, sex, and intrigue, the film lacks only the chase scene which would have converted Brosnan from Osnard to James Bond. Rush, as always, gives a sterling performance as the bumbling tailor, frantic to keep his wife from knowing of his debts and his years in prison. Curtis does a fine job of acting, but it feels like acting, and it is almost impossible to imagine her married to someone like Pendel. Enjoyable and fun to watch, as long as one does not look for depth in the plot or characters, this film provides plenty of amusement and light entertainment for those not offended by the strong language and sexual content. Mary Whipple
Rating: 
Summary: A fun movie to watch
Review: This movie flows real well. The plot is intriguing and everyone did a great job playing their parts. Osnard is sly and very convincing. He is played perfectly by the very talented Pierce Brosnan. But my favorite character here is Marta, who is played by the very sexy Leonor Varela. She should have had a bigger role but the scenes she's in are just those spur of the moment scenes that are perfect. Personally for me Jamie Lee Curtis is so so and I would have given Leonor Varela as big a role as Jamie Lee Curtis if not bigger. But damn Leonor is sexy! Keep being a stunna girl! And Geoffry Rush, who I think is very under-rated, was perfect for the role as Harry Pendel. He shows why he is such a great actor. Pendel is sly and compassionate and Rush played the part perfectly. Despite the off-key performance by Jamie Lee Curits, The Tailor Of Panama is a pretty fun way to spend a couple of hours. Watch it and you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Bad ending
Review: As a great fan of Le Carr? I was very disappointed with the ending of this movie. I had hoped that the alternative ending was better, but it wasn't. Pierce Brosnan was good, though I had imagined that the actor was more like a Michael Caine-type. I don't think that Jamie Lee Curtis was the best for that part - at least not with Geoffrey Rush as her husband. However he was a perfect taylor.
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