Gary Oldman's portrayal of George Smiley was brilliantly enigmatic.

Oldman is good in the role but, truth be told, I didn't find it the revelation that many did - I could imagine any good actor of a certain age range doing just as well. He's effective but I don't think it's one of his best performances.

It's an excellent film however, complex but enthralling, and packed with memorable supporting characters. Tom Hardy, Kathy Burke and John Hurt were the stand-outs for me. The production design and score were exquisite.

You call it "enigmatic," I call it phlegmatic, or ponderous, or flat--except for the one moment when he sees his wife making out with another man, and he looks a bit grief-stricken. Must have been a paucity of good male leading actor performances in 2011 for him to get a nomination for this!