The Tailor of Panama

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The Tailor of Panama

R

2001

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

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119 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Harry Pendel, a Cockney ex-con who has reinvented himself as a popular tailor to the rich and powerful of Panama, is famous for his storytelling as well as his suits -- but this time, his tales carry lethal repercussions. Preyed upon by ruthless, seductive British spy Osnard, Harry spins a yarn that inadvertently sets off a series of events to destroy everything he values most in life.

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Critics Consensus

The Tailor of Panama is a smart, darkly satirical thriller with exuberant performances from Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

07/15/2023

The premise still provides some fun, but only Le Carre fans with tin ears and clouded eyes will fail to note the film's sour tone, crude performances and drab look.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

02/07/2023

Boorman wants to turn the novel’s rueful satire into something sharp and sweaty, but the tone veers all over the place, and the plot feels like reckless fantasy.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

06/24/2006

Boorman has crafted a witty, classy and richly enjoyable morality play, which skewers the mercenary self-interest behind Anglo-American imperialism almost as an afterthought.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/14/2022

2.5/4

Smart and challenging though it may be at times, The Tailor of Panama remains fragmented in unsatisfying ways.

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Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

09/11/2014

6/10

Brosnan... completely alters the tone of the movie with every scene he's in, bringing a level of smarminess that makes it far more interesting than just a bureaucratic spy thriller

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

01/18/2013

B

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Philswif P

Jul 14

The film definitely isn't the best Le Carre film adaptation, but it's pretty good if you ever want to see Pierce Brosnan as the spy villain.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 2

Success in 1 hour and 49 minutes. Rated R for Strong Sexuality, Language, and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Adam K

@Adamkapl 02/16/2025

I have watched this a few times and find new stuff I love about it every time

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Steve D

02/05/2023

The actors are here but the story is just not interesting.

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William L

07/06/2022

The Tailor of Panama seems like a very attractive film on paper: a Le Carré adaptation with an appealing cast - Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a near-unrecognizable Brendan Gleeson, among others (including Daniel Radliffe's first cinematic credit). But all of that seems misused in the context of the film, which is pure satire of the classic spy formula. Rush's Harry Pendel is an opportunistic purveyor of fine clothes and tall tales whose unlikely collaboration with Brosnan's crass spy (a parody of his years as Bond, with superficial charm thinly coating very crude sensibilities) leads to possible international upheaval thanks to a shared lack of morals. It's a clever premise and the book might translate it well, but the movie adaptation sacrifices all sense of realism and storytelling in service of it (including a bizarre recurring bit where Harry sees his dead uncle, which goes nowhere), a rushed and nonsensical conclusion that sacrifices any audience investment, and a miscasting in Brosnan that poisons his Bond years rather than playing off them. It plays out like a poor man's Armando Iannucci film at its best, but at its worst it's just not functional despite a lot of good raw materials. (1.5/5)

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Justin W

@Loonsan 03/13/2022

Espionage drama with a tropical con twist.

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John Boorman

Director

Pierce Brosnan

Andy Osnard

Geoffrey Rush

Harry Pendel

Jamie Lee Curtis

Louisa Pendel

Brendan Gleeson

Mickie Abraxas

Catherine McCormack

Francesca

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - What Happened to Her Face?

3:30

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Negs A Lady

1:14

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - The Americans Are Invading Panama!

4:31

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - James Bond & Captain Barbossa Dance At The Gay Bar

2:42

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - James Bond in Panama

3:06

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - How About a Farewell F**k?

1:02

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Wants to Have an Affair With You

2:01

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Jamie Lee Curtis Confronts Geoffrey Rush

2:12

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Brendan Gleeson DISAPPEARED Into This Role!

1:37

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Jamie Lee Curtis Thinks Geoffrey Rush Is Cheating

2:39

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The Tailor of Panama: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Harry Pendel, a Cockney ex-con who has reinvented himself as a popular tailor to the rich and powerful of Panama, is famous for his storytelling as well as his suits -- but this time, his tales carry lethal repercussions. Preyed upon by ruthless, seductive British spy Osnard, Harry spins a yarn that inadvertently sets off a series of events to destroy everything he values most in life.

Director: John Boorman
Producer: John Boorman
Screenwriter: John Boorman, Andrew Davies, John le Carré, John le Carré
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Merlin Films, Columbia Pictures
Rating: R (Strong Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.5M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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