THE TAILOR OF PANAMA --------------------
Andy Osnard (Pierce Brosnan, "The World Is Not Enough") has just about used up the good will of MI6 when he's assigned to Panama to keep an eye on British interests in the Canal. In order to gain contacts and information, Andy ferrets out Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush, "Quills"), an ex-convict with a Saville Row front in "The Tailor of Panama."
Adapted from the John le Carre novel by the author, director John Boorman ("The General") and Andrew Davies, "The Tailor of Panama is a cheeky lark about an immoral agent playing colleagues, superiors and countries against each other to his own benefit while spinning an 'innocent' tailor into a duplicitous stew. While family man Harry Pendel doesn't deserve Andy's blackmailing, he's susceptible to it because he's duped his wife along with his customers and is facing financial difficulties. Harry's a decent fellow who remains loyal to anti-Noriega freedom fighters Marta (Leonor Varela, TV's "Cleopatra"), who was brutally disfigured, and Mickie Abraxas (Brendan Gleeson, "The General") now a brokendown alcoholic. Yet he uses these two to concoct a story about "The Silent Opposition," a group purportedly arming up to defend the Panamian President's selling of the Canal to a) Japan, b) France or c) China/Taiwan.
Andy's bs detector is on, but he figures Pendel's story will be bought. It is, and soon offers in the millions rain down from the U.S. via Osnard's boss Cavendish (Johathan Hyde). That hasn't stopped Osnard from attempting to also get at Harry via his wife Louisa (Jamie Lee Curtis), an American who just happens to work for U.S. Government interests in the Canal with unshakeable loyalty. She's already sensed something amiss with Harry, though, and goes on the offensive. Meanwhile, Harry's make-believe has caused events to take such a dramatic turn that he's shaken to his core.
"The Tailor of Panama" works wonderfully in its playful setup right up through the beginning of an American invasion of Panama City (played for yucks and getting them!). Deceit is everywhere, from Harry's seemingly sympathetic banker (Jon Polito, "Stuart Little") calling in a loan to naive Cavendish's handling of the U.S. Osnard plays hard and fast to bed British diplomat attache Francesca (Catherine McCormack, "Braveheart"). Harry amusingly gets advice from Uncle Benny (Harold Pintner), the deceased Jewish Uncle who set him up in Panama.
The film goes into a nose dive, however, as the two leads get into serious business trying to outmaneuver one another. There's no satisfaction in the wrapup, in which the (marginally) 'good' guy barely squeezes out of harm's way as corruption still reigns.
Rush gives another delightful performance as the put upon Pendel, whether he's chalking up a suit pattern, making breakfast for his kids or trying to keep one step ahead of Osnard. He gains audience empathy as a man deserving the second chance Uncle Benny provided. Brosnan has a ball turning his suave Bond agent sideways with malicious glee and his is a fun performance to watch. Gleeson is odd casting as a Panamian rebel, but he takes ownership of the character and makes us believe he's a Central American hero destroyed by his own fighting spirit. Jamie Lee Curtis brings little to her role as the bewildered wife in a lackluster performance. Get your first screen glimpse of the boy cast as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe, as Harry and Louisa's son Mark.
The film, shot on location in Panama by cinematographer by Philippe Rousselot ("Remember the Titans"), looks sweatily slick. Editting is comical while the film remains in hijinx mode. Bush family supporters will have their noses tweaked.
"The Tailor of Panama" is best when it's shaken, not stirred.
B-
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