RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Tailor of Panama
The Tailor of Panama

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Tailor of Panama (2001)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
77 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:111

Fresh:86

Rotten:25

Average Rating:6.8/10

Consensus: A smart and satrical thriller with an engaging cast.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Pierce Brosnan stars as the anti-Bond in maverick director John Boorman's adaptation of legendary spy novelist John le Carre's seamy tour of post-Noriega Panama. A British intelligence agent whose... Pierce Brosnan stars as the anti-Bond in maverick director John Boorman's adaptation of legendary spy novelist John le Carre's seamy tour of post-Noriega Panama. A British intelligence agent whose taste for gambling and other men's wives has put him on the wrong side of his bosses at MI6, Andy Osnard (Brosnan) is posted to the backwater of Panama to atone for his sins. To that end, he recruits upscale tailor Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), leveraging the man's financial problems and questionable past to gain access to information about the activities of his elite clientele. Meanwhile, Osnard remains true to form, recruiting the personal services of lovely embassy official Francesca (Catherine McCormack), and attempting the same with Harry's wife, Louisa (Jamie Lee Curtis). When Harry's best friend Micki (Brendan Gleeson), a former member of the anti-Noriega underground, now a broken man, begins blustering about politics in front of Osnard, both of these con men begin to see him as the solution to their problems. The mundane tragedy of espionage familiar to le Carre's Cold Warriors has been replaced by farce with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Boorman creates an atmosphere redolent with U.S.-abetted corruption in this well written and acted film, which also features playwright Harold Pinter in a cameo role. [More]

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Gleeson

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Pierce Brosnan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Gleeson, David Hayman, Catherine McCormack, Harold Pinter, Leonor Valera, Dylan Baker, Daniel Radcliffe

Director: John Boorman

Director: John Boorman
Screenwriter: Andrew Davies, John Boorman
Studio: Columbia Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 7

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Tailor of Panama

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A never-thrilling, occasionally amusing picture which wheezes badly, like a pig which has been shot but refuses to die.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/16/01
Michael Thomson
Michael Thomson
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/16/02
Jason Solomons
Jason Solomons
Daily Mail [UK]

The film, for all its earnestness, snaky comedy, and would-be intelligence, never manages any real fizz.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/20/01
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/10/01
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

more a satire than a thriller

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
09/20/01
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

A sometimes-plodding, rarely inspiring or revealing and often confused spy drama that can't decide whether it wants to be quirky, smart, sexy, tense or all of the above.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
04/23/01
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

A satisfying blend of action, intrigue, snappy dialogue and dark humor.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
03/27/01
David Germain
David Germain
Associated Press

Well-tailored but not as well as many of John Boorman’s other films.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
03/29/01
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An adult film in the classic sense of the phrase -- no sophomoric comedy allowed, and a dry Brit wit is manifested throughout.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
04/23/01
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

The near faithful screen adaptation, directed with finesse by John Boorman captures the spirit of the novel.

Full Review Source: Baseline.Hollywood.com | comment Comment
05/06/01
Ted Murphy
Ted Murphy
Baseline.Hollywood.com

Many spy capers lose their intended irony and wry black humor, but The Tailor of Panama stays stylishly on target in ways that would put a heat-seeking missile to shame.

comment Comment
03/30/01
Jay Carr
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
03/24/02
Boston Phoenix

One big double entendre that's too jokey for its own good yet nevertheless is at times very amusing.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
04/02/01
Bridget Byrne
Bridget Byrne
Boxoffice Magazine

Has a lot of wry, twisted humor.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
03/30/01
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Like a Bach toccata or a frosty drink on a sunlit veranda, a first--class movie spy thriller can offer one of life's cooler, more elegant treats. The Tailor of Panama fits that category.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
03/29/01
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

A clever alternative to high action and special effect flicks.

Full Review Source: CinemaSense.Com | comment Comment
03/30/01
Cornell & Petricelli
Cornell & Petricelli
CinemaSense.Com

No es una película fácil ni para aquellos con estómago débil, debido a su explícito contenido sexual, su fuerte carga inmoral, su lenguaje y algunas escenas de violencia.

Full Review Source: Cinenganos | comment Comment
06/08/02
Luis Martinez
Luis Martinez
Cinenganos
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
25% 25% Four Christmases
68% 68% Funny People
95% 95% Star Trek
14% 14% The Ugly Truth

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
67% 67% Public Enemies
75% 75% Julie & Julia
95% 95% The Cove
85% 85% World's Greatest Dad

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Headed for IMAX Source: Collider.com
12
  • James Cameron Developing Sci-Fi Film for Fox Source: ComingSoon.net
2
  • Peter Jackson Reveals Which LotR Characters Will Return for The Hobbit Source: MTV
11
  • Josh Brolin Rumored for Men in Black 3 Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Malkovich and Hathaway Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Movieline
68
  • Avatar Picks Up Golden Globes Buzz Source: HitFix
66
  • Disney's Upcoming Hand-Drawn Movies Revealed Source: Slashfilm
21
  • Cameron Explains Blue Avatar Aliens Source: MTV
37
  • Matt Damon Expects Greengrass to Return for Fourth Bourne Source: Collider.com
10
  • Burton's Dark Shadows Rising in 2010 Source: Sci Fi Wire
12
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films with Jason Reitman
57
  • Critics Consensus: Everybody's Fine Is Just OK
50
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
48
  • 10 Horrifically Profitable Films
46
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
45
  • Sundance 2010: RT's 10 Most Anticipated Movies
41
  • Weekly Ketchup: Tron Team to Remake The Black Hole
37
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: The Blind Side Takes the Lead
29
  • Awards Tour: National Board of Review Winners List!
28
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Harry Potter, and more!
24
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Avatar's Sam Worthington
45
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
22
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Tailor of Panama at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Tailor of Panama at IGN
  • The Tailor of Panama at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.