An epic war film starring Gary Oldman is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer, free of charge.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a Cold War spy film directed by Tomas Alfredson, with the screenplay by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan. The 2011 adaptation is based on John le Carré’s 1974 novel of the same name. Alongside Oldman, the film stars an ensemble cast including Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciarán Hinds, David Dencik and Kathy Burke.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival. On the back of this, it became a critical and commercial success, and it was the highest-grossing film at the British box office for three consecutive weeks. It won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film and also received three Oscar nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and for Oldman, Best Actor. The novel had previously been adapted into the award-winning 1979 BBC television series of the same name, with Alec Guinness starring in the lead role of Smiley.

The film’s synopsis reads: “In 1970s England, the head of MI6, Control (John Hurt), dispatches an agent (Mark Strong) to meet with a Hungarian general who knows the identity of a Soviet spy in the organisation’s ranks. However, the mission goes wrong, and the general dies before he can reveal the information. Undersecretary Oliver Lacon (Simon McBurney) calls veteran agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) back from forced retirement to ferret out the mole and stop the flow of vital British secrets to the Russians.”

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has achieved an impressive 84% rating. The critics’ consensus states: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a dense puzzle of anxiety, paranoia, and espionage that director Tomas Alfredson pieces together with utmost skill.”

One critic said: “Stepping into the shoes of Alec Guinness, Gary Oldman, in a performance of restrained inscrutability, captures perfectly the character of John le Carré’s seasoned spy George Smiley…”

Another wrote: “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is everything that one feels it should be. It is complex, intelligent, quiet, intense and keeps its cool throughout.”

“A very gripping, brilliantly directed character-driven genre film, with top-class performances from a flawless ensemble cast headed by a perfect performance from Gary Oldman,” said a third.

A fan of the film said: “An outstanding performance by Gary Oldman.”

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.

Fans of period dramas are set to be captivated by a Netflix film featuring Florence Pugh in the role of an English nurse.

The production debuted at the Telluride Film Festival in 2022 and garnered favourable critical reception, with particular acclaim for the ensemble’s performances, especially Pugh’s compelling portrayal.

Taking place in 1862, the narrative centres on Elizabeth “Lib” Wright, an English nurse who served during the Crimean War.

She travels to a remote Irish village where she must monitor Anna O’Donnell (Kíla Lord Cassidy), a young girl who hasn’t consumed food for four months.

The impressive cast also includes Niamh Algar, Ciarán Hinds and Toby Jones.

The film is The Wonder, adapted from Emma Donoghue’s 2016 novel of the same title.

On Google Reviews, viewers have commended the production, with Andre Fortin commenting: “A really good drama, a good and honest look into fasting girls of the Victorian era. Loved it! Florence Pugh is flawless here.”

Angie Kinsey remarked: “Wonderfully weird and incredibly poignant- this movie is well written, adeptly shot, and superbly acted.

“Florence Pugh made me care about something I didn’t think I could- self-inflicted harm. Then, she-with only her acting skill-turned the story on its head and made me realize anything that dims the wonder of a child is the real culprit here.

“The breaking of the fourth wall wasn’t distracting at all- in fact, it was so well done that it hooked me from the beginning.”

Praising Emma Donoghue’s original novel, readers have described it as “spellbinding”.

Writing on Goodreads, one fan named Dem commented: “Spellbinding and so atmospheric, The Wonder is one of the best Irish historical novels I have read in a very long time where facts and fiction come together to create a story that gets under your skin.”

On review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film adaptation boasts an impressive 85% rating, with critics noting: “The atmosphere’s absorbing and the story is fascinating, but The Wonder of this period drama really lies in Florence Pugh’s remarkable performance.”

Pugh’s portrayal earned her the British/Irish Actress of the Year honour at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards.

The actress also received a nomination for International Actress at the Irish Television and Film Awards.

The Wonder is streaming on Netflix

Darkest Hour (Saturday 6pm on BBC Two)

Hundreds of films have been made about every aspect of the global conflict over the decades since the end of World War 2. Winston Churchill depictions had always proven popular, and none more so than when Gary Oldman starred as the British Prime Minister in 2017’s Darkest Hour. Critically acclaimed for his performance, the chameleonic actor won the Best Actor awards at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and, of course, Oscars. The film’s synopsis reads: “May 1940. As the Nazis advance against Britain’s European allies, newly elected prime minister Winston Churchill must decide whether to leave neighbouring countries to their fate by striking a peace deal with Hitler, or fight on against terrifying odds for the greater good.” The title Darkest Hour refers to how Churchill described the earliest days of World War 2, when the Nazi’s had their upper hand after conquering much of Europe. Oldman has previously teased how there might be a sequel set at the Yalta Conference with FDR and Stalin.

1917 (Sunday 10:50pm on BBC Two)

Back in 2020, Sir Sam Mendes released his World War 1 epic 1917. The Oscar-winning movie, nominated for 10 Academy Awards, follows two British soldiers (led by George MacKay) on a mission to deliver a message to call off an attack the Germans were prepared for. Featuring cameos from stars like Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch, the film was shot in a distinctly unique way. Acclaimed cinematographer Roger Deakins filmed the movie in long takes to make the whole two hour spectacle look like just two continuous shots.

Both Darkest Hour and 1917 will also be streaming on BBC iPlayer for a limited time after broadcast.