Audrey and I recently finished watching The Night Manager (2016) on Amazon Prime Video, and this espionage thriller may well be worth your time as well.
1) The Story
The Night Manager is based on the 1993 novel of the same name by legendary spycraft author John Le Carré (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). Updated to the modern day with outstanding effectiveness, it follows Jonathan Pine, the night manager at a posh Cairo hotel, who, in trying to do the right thing, ends up being drawn into the world of multi-million dollar arms deals, and all the secrecy, murder and betrayal that entails.
2) The Cast
Tom Hiddleston (Loki from Thor) plays the titular manager, Jonathan Pine, while amiable and humorous Hugh Laurie (Dr. House from House) takes a darker turn as Pine's foil Richard Roeper, a philanthropist and arms dealer. Rounding out the cast are Elizabeth Debicki (Tenet) as Roeper's conflicted girlfriend and Oscar-winner Olivia Colman (The Crown) as the increasingly desperate British intelligence officer working to get the goods on Roeper. A great core cast, and no slouches among the other players either. And Hiddleston is a charmer and a half; I'm beginning to think I could watch him in most anything.
3) The Tension
Although this BBC series was released in 2016 and you could binge all six episodes in a night or two, both Audrey and I were too wound up by the end of each episode to continue, sometimes breathing an audible sigh of relief when the end credits rolled. Perhaps you are made of sterner stuff, but I would recommend pacing yourself.
4) Smart Characters
Looking back, of course there are characters who display poor judgement at times, including (perhaps especially) (perhaps inevitably) the main character, but not a single plot point is advanced because anyone is careless, lazy or stupid. There are surprises both pleasant and unpleasant, but overall, this a group of sharp and canny individuals who have solid reasons to pursue their goals as intently as they do.
5) Looks Like Bond...
A plethora of exotic locales ranging from posh hotel lobbies in Egypt and Switzerland, to a paramilitary camp in the desert, to Roeper's magnificent estate in Mallorca keep your eyes entertained while your brain spins its wheels trying to anticipate the next development. And a great variety of costuming from fancy to frumpish helps set the various stages this story plays out on. This is apparently the most that the BBC has ever spent on a single production, and it looks marvelous as a result.
6) ...But Feels Like Hitchcock
No secret gadgets, no car chases, and no karate fights, the people who use violence in The Night Manager tend to be terrifying professionals who use intimidation as much as their fists. Moreover, the political side of things, as Colman's Angela Burr fights for resources to investigate Roeper while others in her own government are intent on maintaining the status quo, was just as intriguing as watching Pine's slowly unfolding infiltration.
7) Small Investment, Big Payoff
Originally optioned way back when as a major box-office release, having six hours to let the story unfold really allows it to take its time in getting underway, which may leave some viewers initially restless. Audrey and I were intrigued right off the hop, and knowing that this was a novel and not a franchise greatly increased the sense of peril throughout. When all is said and done, no every single thread is tied off, but you don't come away feeling like a sequel would be of any use either.
If you are looking for a spy yarn that is a tinge more realistic and less bombastic than Bond or Bourne but no less dramatic, I can firmly recommend The Night Manager.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/MqJGDsePuvk
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