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The Tailor of Panama

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for The Tailor of Panama R 2001 1h 49m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 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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The Tailor of Panama

The Tailor of Panama

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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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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 Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 01/18/2013
B
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Audience Reviews

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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. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 2 Success in 1 hour and 49 minutes. Rated R for Strong Sexuality, Language, and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Adam K Feb 16 I have watched this a few times and find new stuff I love about it every time See more Steve D 02/05/2023 The actors are here but the story is just not interesting. See more 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) See more 03/13/2022 Espionage drama with a tropical con twist. See more Read all reviews
The Tailor of Panama

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The Tailor of Panama

The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - What Happened to Her Face? The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - What Happened to Her Face? 3:30 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Negs A Lady The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Negs A Lady 1:14 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - The Americans Are Invading Panama! 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 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - James Bond & Captain Barbossa Dance At The Gay Bar 2:42 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Wants to Have an Affair With You The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Wants to Have an Affair With You 2:01 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - How About a Farewell F**k? The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - How About a Farewell F**k? 1:02 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - James Bond in Panama The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - James Bond in Panama 3:06 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Jamie Lee Curtis Confronts Geoffrey Rush 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! The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Brendan Gleeson DISAPPEARED Into This Role! 1:37 The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Seduces Jamie Lee Curtis The Tailor of Panama: Official Clip - Pierce Brosnan Seduces Jamie Lee Curtis 5:08 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
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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