THE NIGHT MANAGER
UK, 2015, 330 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Nardone, Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, David Harewood, Tobias Menzies, Adeel Akhtar, Neil Morrisey, Jonathan Aris, Natasha Little, Katherine Kelly, Simona Brown, Aure Atika.
Directed by Suzanne Bier.
John le Carre’s novels have been popular for over 50 years, from such film versions as The Spy who came in from the Cold and the Looking Glass War in the 1960s, to the television series of the stories of Smiley, to the film version of Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy in the 21st century and A Most Wanted Man.
This present film, screened as a series on BBC, is a topical story of the 21st century, the focus on international arms dealers, military entrepreneurs, their customers all over the world but especially from the Middle East, the covers as humanitarians, the ruthlessness of their lifestyle as well as its luxury.
The title refers to Jonathan Pine, played effectively by Tom Hiddleston, a man with a war background in Iraq, working as a night manager in a Cairo hotel during the uprising in 2011, getting information about deals and sending it to London. He is recruited by Angela Burr, a fine role for Olivia Colman, who has been pursuing a British arms dealer, Roper, one of the best roles for Hugh Laurie, a supremely smug and self-confident evil man. Pine ingratiates himself into Roper’s world and becomes his trusted associate, meanwhile continuing to send information to London. And, of course, there are traitors in the government offices.
The film looks very good with locations in Egypt, Switzerland, Mallorca, Turkey and the desert.
The film was directed by the Danish director, Oscar-winner Suzanne Bier, quite a different enterprise for her but very effective. And there is a fine cast of supporting actors. As might be expected, there is a romantic subplot involving Roper’s wife played by Australian actress, Elizabeth Debicki.
The film is strong in characterisation, plot, twists of fate as well as a look at 21st century espionage and spies who might have been in the cold but go back into action.
1. The long popularity of novels by John le Carre, the wide audiences over the decades, this 21st century and topical story?
2. The title, the focus on Jonathan Pine, his military background, working in hotels, his relationships, his anger, coming across information and submitting it, recruitment by the foreign office, the consequences?
3. The variety of locations, scenery, landmarks, touches of the exotic: Cairo in 2011, England and the Devon coast, Switzerland and the mountains in the snow, the variety of hotels, Mallorca and its idyllic scenery, Turkey and hotels, the docks, the desert, the military base, London and Whitehall and the foreign office, the political world? The musical score?
4. The strengths of the cast? The director?
5. The screenplay, plot, use of language, sense of mystery, dramatic twists?
6. The topicality of the plot? International arms deals, the double lives of the entrepreneurs, their political connections, ruthlessness, living in luxury, in the mountains, at the sea, the range of hotels and staff, tough environment, the amounts of money changed, loyalties and betrayals, wives and children, wars and massacres, deals, international customers, investigations?
7. The portrait of Jonathan, initially seen in Cairo, his army background, his duties at the hotel, available for people, allowing himself to be imposed on, the attraction of the girl, helping her, the sexual relationship, love, giving the information? His friend at the embassy, sending the information, her death, Jonathan’s anger towards Freddy? Transferring to Switzerland, continuing in the same work? The visit from Angela, discussions, the recruitment, his commitment? Going to England, the new identity, getting the documents? Devon, the girl, attraction, the drug-dealer, Jonathan’s ruthlessness, pressure on him, murder? The building up of his file? In Mallorca, working at the hotel, the abduction of Roper’s son, the rescue, the setup and the violence? Ingratiating himself with Roper, his recovery? The meeting with Jed and the attraction? Sandy and his wife? Corky and his suspicions? The bodyguards and thugs? Becoming part of Roper’s entourage, trusted? Taking the boy out – and his ingenious way of communicating, the episode of buying the ice cream? Contacts and further information? Roper, the invitation, trusting him and making him a partner? Corky and the insinuations against him? The base, going outside the base to communicate with Angela, discovered by Corky, the fight, his death and Roper burying him? His becoming Andrew Birch, the money, scanning of his eyes, exercise, central bank accounts, his studying weapons? Meeting the trust and playing his part? Turkey, unloading the weapons, the trucks, information to London? Going to the base, the experience of the extent of the base, the demonstrations of the weapons? The false information and Roper and his surveillance? The trucks with farm goods? Cairo, Angela and Joel coming, the casino, Freddie and the drugs, drowning him in his pool? Telling the truth to Jed, her getting the pass from the safe, Roper discovering the truth, saving face and Jonathan’s presence at the further meetings? The issue of the transfer of the money, its disappearance? Exploding all the vehicles? The arrests, Angela and Jed, a future?
8. Roper, seeing him on television, humanitarian and saving children? His arms deals, his entourage, Jed and Daniel, the thugs? Trusting Corky, Sandy? In Switzerland, impressed by Jonathan, in Spain, the abduction of Daniel, his interest in Jonathan, liking him, the recuperation, inviting him closer, advice? The death of the Spanish lawyer? Seen as the traitor? Turning Jonathan into Andrew Birch, giving him power? The associates, Turkey, the arms on the wharf, the meetings with the dealers, tensions, agreements, Roper and his pressure? Sandy and his role in the deals? Going to the base, the amount of equipment, the demonstration of arms, the bombing of the village? His relying on Corky, Corky and his friends, ousting them from the Villa? The false information about the trucks, going back to Cairo, safety, the further deals, at the camp, Sandy and the transfer of the money? Discovering Jed had gone to the safe, battering her, her being tortured? The final sales, Jonathan keeping face, the explosions, the arrest, his vanity and being sure of his safety? Into the van, the dealers and their thugs, getting their revenge?
9. Angela, her career, her past, in the Middle East, the shock of destruction, by arms, her pursuit of Roper over the years? Those working for her, in the office, their reliability? The discussions with Rex, his help? Going to Switzerland, her recruiting Jonathan? Setting him up? The information sent by him, information about the politicians and their money deals, the aliases? Her expertise, Jonathan contacting her, the Parliamentary Secretary and taking control of the operation, jealousies? Her being followed, the threats at the door? Her pregnancy, relationship with her husband, his being attacked? The false information the Syrian border? Her relationship with Joel, his coming to England, the collaboration? His return to America? Going to Cairo, putting the document back, the risk, the bodyguards and the search, Joel ringing about the parcel, taking the gun, Jed being brought to the room, shooting the bodyguards leg, success? The range of people whom she worked with – final call to Dromgoole and his not answering Roper’s phone call? Angela and her assistant, the Permanent Secretary?
10. Freddie and his treatment of his girlfriend, death, motivation? The girl and her relationship with Jonathan? Sandy and his wife, his mistress, the pressure of his wife after leaving, being brought back to spy on Jed and the risk of losing her children?
11. Jed, the dubious background, having the son? With Roper, love or not, the comfortable life? His love forher? With Daniel? Life and style, not knowing what Roper did? The attraction to Jonathan, being careful? The change, photographing the documents, explaining to Roper, his taking her on the trips, to the base? With Jonathan, the sexual encounter? In Cairo, the casino, learning the truth, taking the document from the safe, trying to return it, the code changed? Torture, and Angela rescuing her? With Jonathan and the possibility of seeing her son again?
12. Corky, trained, Roper loyalties, extravagantly gay, his advances, attraction to Jonathan, wary of him, jealousies, the insinuations? Jonathan besting him? His return, finding Jonathan at the fence, struggle, death, Roper burying him? Roper’s later regret?
13. Roper, the thugs, the bodyguards, killing and torturing?
14. Spanish lawyer, Angela getting to him, the visits to the church, the deaths, his turning, giving her the information, the brutality of his murder?
15. The British, the politicians, the codenames, the deals, the profits, protecting themselves? The variety of meetings for security? The Permanent Secretary, the threats to Angela?
16. Rex, a good man, the pressures, his decisions, supporting Angela – and the blackmail of his promotion?
17. The dealers, in the Middle East, the vast amount of weapons, the visits and discussions, the demonstrations, the money, the transfers online? The explosions – and their being thwarted, their revenge on Roper?
18. The overall effect of this Le Carre story four television, the running time, the complexities of the story, characters, topical impact?
