"'Tailor' Made"
by Scott Mantz

"The Tailor of Panama"
Geoffrey Rush, Pierce Brosnan
Directed by John Boorman

Geoffrey Rush is shaken (not stirred) by Pierce Brosnan in "The Tailor of Panama"

As good-looking as Pierce Brosnan is, the fact is, he's a one-note actor. After jumping from the sexy, suave private investigator he played on TV's "Remington Steele" into the sexy, suave secret agent he played in the "James Bond" films, it seems like Brosnan has practically made a career out of playing different variations of the same character. Even his performance in the 1999 remake of "The Thomas Crown Affair" borrowed from the cool, calm, and collective exterior of his better-known roles.

In John Boorman's adaptation of "The Tailor of Panama," Brosnan once again borrows from the past, but this time around, he delivers one of his better performances. Unfortunately, while the film starts off with an intriguing and totally believable concept, it's blend of political espionage with unintentionally delusional comedy makes for an uneven and ultimately frustrating moviegoing experience.

After 75 years of being run by the US Army, the Panama Canal is back in the hands of its own government. That's good news for Andy Osnard (Pierce Brosnan), an exiled British spy who's looking for some action. He finds it through Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), a well-connected, but deliriously sophisticated British tailor who refers to Panama as "Casablanca without heroes." Harry is reluctantly drawn to the excitement that his newfound friend represents, but after giving him one too many ideas, he finds himself in over his head while Andy plots to take control of the Canal for the British government.

By putting its so-called hero in a situation that is clearly beyond his control, "The Tailor of Panama"--which is based on the 1996 novel by John le Carre--finds itself in the company of suspense flicks like "North by Northwest" and "The Spanish Prisoner." But where the dramatic intensity of those movies built to a fever pitch, "Panama" doesn't even come close to busting the thermometer. By starting off on a dramatic extreme and ending on a rather ludicrous note, the film fails to engage the audience in its intended way and merely ends up as a disappointment.

In addition to its uneven tone, a number of supporting characters are introduced to give the film a more epic feel. The problem is, without any insight into their background, their eventual fate lacks the emotional hook that the movie could have used. Even Jamie Lee Curtis tries in earnest to make more out of her character (she plays Pendel's wife) than the story allows, but to no avail.

Pierce Brosnan plays his character like an evil version of James Bond, while Geoffrey Rush shines as the ex-con who's clearly out of his element in the seedy streets of Panama. Strong performances aside, and despite starting off as a sturdy, intriguing, and intelligent political thriller, "The Tailor of Panama" slowly unravels into a ludicrous, baffling, and silly underachiever.

It just goes to show you that looks can be deceiving. What may appear to be an Armani suit on the outside may in fact be a cheap imitation. Of course, by the time you realize that, you've already paid your money.

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