Such a frustrating disappointment

Admirable film.

A Disappointing Continuation

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This is truly a woeful film. Terence Young's days as a director who was at the top of his game with the iconic Bond films of the 60s had long gone, and this film not only reflects his lack of innovation as a director but also how low the British film industry had sunk by the mid eighties. The subject matter was way past its sell-by-date even in the mid-eighties, and the UK film industry would look to the likes of Neil Jordan and Stephen Wooley to inspire a new generation of film makers.I can't imagine anyone paying good money to see this in the theatres, it probably didn't even make money as a video release. It is pure 3rd rate TV drama of the worst order. The cinematography and art direction are turgidly ininspiring, it is only interesting in that one wonders how such a stella British cast was employed.Caine and George try their hardest, true professionals carrying out their responsibilities as the ship slowly sinks. Robert Powell is actually rather charismatic, probably because he was as used to working on the small screen as in feature films. But Lord Olivier is dreadful, he just shouts his way through the film wearing a rather poorly attached full beard. His kind of acting had really had its day and he really shouldn't have bothered. A small shout out does go to Charles Grey, who as always make s every scene his in worth watching.All in all a quite dreadful film and its only saving grace is that it reminds us of how far British film making has improved in the last 30 years. Avoid like the plague.

A very dull film is the only way of describing this tale of spies and defectors, plastic surgery and double dealing, during the Cold War. Michael Caine plays the rejuvenated spy who returns to his homeland, and his former friend and sparring partner, head of M15 (a truly appalling Laurence Olivier), at the same time reviving his relationship with his pouting daughter Penny (Susan George) who is having a fling with a secret service man (Robert Powell), who is surviving attempts to kill him by ... well, who knows? With fruity support from Charles Gray and Michael Medwin and an awful script delivered in poor accents (Caine's Russian has to be heard to be believed) 'The Jigsaw Man' becomes a bit of a joke. It is watchable, but is really a load of old rubbish dressed up in London locations and with some semblance of a plot.

It's very hard to know what to write about this.Take a seasoned director of taut spy thrillers (Terence Young, responsible for Dr No and From Russia With Love) and pair him with an experienced second-unit chief (Peter Hunt).Take three of the most talented actors of modern times (Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine and Charles Gray).Take a roman a clef about Kim Philby and a fictional return to Britain post-defection and make it in 1983 when spy thrillers were still relevant in a Cold War context.You'd think you'd have a pretty good film. Sadly, you don't.This film is terrible. A lumpen script and corny story is weighed down by an unsympathetic lead (is Michael Caine a goodie or a baddie?), wild overacting from Laurence Olivier (who was far too old to play a spy chief) and confusing plot points (Charles Gray's character has a wig...only Gray has a perfect head of hair and looks ridiculous with his bald cap on).Young clearly slept through the film instead of directing it and the script/plot is very hard to follow. I saw it last night for the second time and it's almost like both versions were cut but in different places...I'm pretty convinced that a third watching wouldn't help. For those who haven't seen it, don't even bother with the first watching. Truly truly awful.

This movie is interesting. It is very hard to follow, but after seeing it two or three times, it comes. A very well defined star-studded cast but the movie is not what you'd expect it to be. Other than that, this movie would be good to watch if you like action, politics or just want to kill time.