Tinker, Tailor, Solider Spy is an adaptation of John le Carre’s cold-war novel featuring George Smiley, an enigmatic operative in the British intelligence service. It’s been adapted as a TV miniseries in 1979, but this movie takes full advantage of its large screen format, with visuals and performances worthy of a major movie, without sacrificing the complexity and texture of a good, old fashioned spy story.

When the cast list came up, I couldn’t believe the names I’d just read. I’d known that Gary Oldman was in the movie – and he delivered an absolutely amazing performance. But I didn’t know to expect John Hurt (of Alien), Ciaran Hinds (of Munich and Rome), Benedict Cumberbatch (of BBC’s Sherlock), Mark Strong (of Kick-Ass and Sherlock Holmes), Tom Hardy (soon to play Batman’s nemesis Bane) and Colin Firth (of many things, not least of which was The King’s Speech last year). Without drawing too much attention to themselves, each of them delivered amazing, selfless performances.

While the story presented a number of complicated twists, fundamentally the setup was simple: Control, the head of intelligence at the British government, has realized his government houses a Soviet mole somewhere at the top. He entrusts George Smiley, portrayed with remarkable restraint by Gary Oldman, with finding this mole, rooting him out.

The watchword of the movie is discipline. Every scene is incredibly, deliberately crafted – from the office parties, to the interrogations, to the infiltrations, to the quiet personal conversations. The scenery is presented with calm confidence, no fast-paced establishing shots like the still fun, but hyperactive Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Whether it’s the old-world majesty of Istanbul or Budapest, or the drab office blocks of 1973 London, the world of this movie speaks for itself.

And the characters are rich and complex, with wardrobe, mannerisms, and expressions that tell entire stories before an actor even opens his or her mouth. Much like Mad Men, the movie excels at setting a scene using art direction to tell a whole story.

A final touch that spoke to me on a personal level was the movie’s depiction of the workings of a bureaucracy. My day job takes place in a bureaucratic context. So to see the almost unintentionally ego-driven, backstabbing machinations of the British civil service played out with only slight exaggeration gave the movie a very believable feel.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is fun, but it’s refined fun, and after seeing it, I felt like I’d had a complete meal of a movie. It should be coming to DVD in late March, and the original, slightly more complex TV miniseries adaptation is already out there for comparison. When you’re ready to treat yourself to a movie that engages your eyes, ears, and mostly your brain, this is the one to see!

Tobias Fünke, a licensed analyst and therapist (or “Analrapist”) lost his license and job as the Chief Resident of Psychiatry at a hospital when he gave CPR to a man who was not actually having a heart attack. At the beginning of the series, Tobias became focused on fulfilling his destiny of becoming an actor. The real highlight of his career – and one of the highlights of the series – is when Tobias joins the Blue Man Group and spends part of the series in blue body paint.

Lindsay and Tobias are the parents of Maeby, though they mostly ignore her – and each other. The couple appears to openly dislike each other. Tobias shows zero attraction toward his wife, who openly dates other people.

In flashbacks we see clips that allude to a happier time for Tobias and Lindsay: hosting lavish charity functions; playing as a family band; having financially stability. But, during the course of the series, we rarely see them interact in any way that isn’t completely awkward and downright hilarious.

It was announced in late 2011 that the Bluths are coming back in 2013 thanks to a deal with Netflix. The entire original cast has signed on for the reunion. It will be really interesting to see how the pick up 7 years after the abrupt end of the 3rd season in 2006.

Enjoy some of the best laughs from Tobias Fünke:

Last week we were talking about Rainn Wilson and a possible Dwight spin-off and this week it’s Mindy Kaling who might be on her way out of The Office, according to TV Line.  Fox has ordered a half-hour comedy pilot produced by and starring Mindy Kaling who plays Kelly on The Office.  The project has her playing a Bridget-Jones type OB/GYN trying to navigate both her personal and professional lives.

Ken Leung who most of us remember as Miles on Lost has joined the cast of NBC’s Untitled Sarah Silverman Project, says The Hollywood Reporter.  The pilot starring Silverman is based on her own experiences as a woman readjusting to the single life after a decade-long live-in relationship. Leung will play a neighbor and love interest of Silverman’s character, a shut-in who spends most of his time on his couch, wrapped in a blanket and watching TV (I like him already).

CBS has given the greenlight to Super Fun Night, a half-hour comedy written by and starring uproarious Aussie comedienne Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids).  Conan O’Brien is among the exec producers of the project, which follows three nerdy female friends on their hilarious quests to have fun every Friday night.

Kevin Bacon has landed the lead role in Kevin Williamson‘s (Vampire Diaries EP) drama pilot for FOX.  Bacon will play a retired FBI profiler in the thriller, which centers on a deranged serial killer who creates his own cult of murderers via the wonders of technology.  The big screen vet’s casting comes with a slight twist:  Should Fox order the drama to series, Bacon is reportedly only committed to 15 episodes a season as opposed to a broadcast series’ standard 22, as a means of accommodating his always busy film schedule.

CW has found their Green Arrow.  Hung alum Stephen Amell will star as the fictional superhero for the upcoming pilot. CW promises a “modern retelling” of the DC Comics character’s story and not conceived as a spin-off of Smallville as Deadline reported. Ammel will play Green Arrow and Oliver Queen – his billionaire-playboy alter ego and former mayor of Star City.

Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan are the new Masters of Sex.  TV Line reports that Showtime has finally secured the two leads in its drama pilot based on 1960′s human sexuality pioneers William Masters and Virginia Johnson.  The show is based on Thomas Maier’s book Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, The Couple Who Taught America How to Love.  The show’s future was unknown after Paul Bettany dropped out last month for undisclosed reasons.

Finally, one of my favourite sites TV Line has posted their February TV Calendar! The calendar includes Season premieres for The Walking Dead, Smash, The River, Eastbound & Down and more.The calendar also includes finales, time slot changes, specials and milestone episodes of NCIS and The Simpsons.  Click the thumbnail calendar below, and save the dates!

Our Twitter feed has been inundated with funny and insightful fan responses to the news from DC Comics.

Short of getting Alan Moore’s reaction, these are some of the best responses we’ve seen so far:

@johnnydavisesq: What no comics fan ever wanted! The #watchmen prequels are here!

@asunnydayinhell: well once again the simpsons predict the future….

@MomentOfMoore: “As far as I know there weren’t that many prequels or sequels to Moby-Dick.” — Alan Moore #watchmen

@BizarroStanLee: Alan Moore never intended “Watchmen” prequels; but creator of Snow White never intended her to eat out Cinderella either

@MikeEMedia: I love #AlanMoore but saying people can’t touch #Watchmen is silly… he based it on Charlton characters#alanmooreisnotgod

@digitaldevil4gk: Shout out to #DC for messing up one of the FEW masterpieces in there property #watchmen prequels?!?#facepalm

@ChuckQuizmo64: …Watchmen Babies, we make our dreams come true Watchmen Babies, we’ll do the same 4 u! #ObscureReferences

@DanSlott: The REAL “Before Watchmen” comic would show pages of Alan Moore reading stacks of Charlton Comics, watching an Outer Limits ep.

@popgunchaos: Alan Moore is the only one who can write #Watchmen! Also, bob Kane is the only batman writer ever #fanlogic

@AlphaInvictus: …The first #Watchmen wasn’t *that* great. Maybe they can put some#effort into this one.

@RuthKappes: #Watchmen Prequels: they’re going to be like the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead of graphic novels…

@CinnamonJezus: This is what happens when suits make decisions in comics.#watchmen #fearitself #civilwar #brightestday

Have you seen any awesome zingers or thoughtful comments about the Watchmen Prequels? Share it with us in the comments or  tweet us: @BiffBamPop !

I am crazy about LCD Soundsystem.

When I heard that they were going to play their final show in New York last year, I was pretty upset. No more breaking traffic laws to new songs? No more opportunities to have dance parties and sing-a-longs at LCD Soundsystem concerts? Crushing.

You know what the demise of one band means though. The members become free to do other things – like start new bands!

Late last year Al Doyle, from LCD Soundsystem’s touring band, and his Hot Chip band mate, Felix Martin announced that they were joining forces for a new project, appropriately named New Build. It sounds exactly how you expect an LCD Soundsystem/Hot Chip collaboration to sound – which is definitly not a bad thing. New Build have just released four new tracks. Give them a listen on the band’s official site.

(I’m dancing right now!)