The Tailor of Panama is a playful, yet stinging slap at the world of international intelligence. Based on the John le Carré novel, the film is set in post-Noriega Panama City, and its major plot point is the precarious status of the Panama Canal and its significance to the major world powers. This and other complicated political issues are quickly skimmed over in the film, because the real focus is on the characters, and the fine actors who bring them to the screen.

As the title character, Geoffrey Rush finds another role with which to express his great range. Harry Pendel is a British expatriate, a man who has deeply embedded himself into the social fabric of Panama City by weaving fantastic tales about his business and its clients. Up until the arrival of Andy Osnard, Harry's good-hearted lies and exaggerations have afforded him a comfortable life. No one, not even his wife Louisa, knows that he learned his trade while serving time in prison for a foolish crime and that the distinguished reputation of his shop is pure fiction.

All of that is threatened with the arrival of disgraced British spy, Andy Osnard. Pierce Brosnan's Osnard is a seductive sociopath without morals; he's the dark side of 007. Here's a character that Brosnan inhabits with flourish, and probably closer to the true nature of international spies than James Bond. Osnard sees Harry as his ticket into Panama high society, and his access to Harry's criminal record gives him the perfect leverage to push an otherwise innocent man into the world of espionage.

Of course, the punchline is that Harry knows nothing remotely interesting or incriminating about anyone, and Osnard cannot use inseam measurements and suit fabric samples to wow his bosses. As his threats against Harry intensify, Harry's lies grow larger and larger. Eventually, one man's tall tales filtered through another man's ambition capture the attention of world powers.

The best moments of the film happen when Osnard is making Harry squirm. Brosnan and Rush play well off one another, and seem to enjoy playing a scoundrel and a liar, respectively. Actor Brendan Gleeson, of John Boorman's The General, is Mickie Abraxas, Harry's alcoholic, damaged friend and major player in the Harry's lies about a Panamanian "Silent Resistance" movement.

As Harry's wife, Louisa, Jamie Lee Curtis is loaded down with yet another "worrisome woman" role. Louisa's range of emotion as the audience sees it goes from bemused/worried to worried/angry. She's there to indicate that Harry is a family man, but these scenes slow down the pace. They are noteworthy only because the actor who plays Harry's son, Daniel Radcliffe, will soon be skyrocketing to fame as Harry Potter in the upcoming film.

Leonor Varela fares slightly better than Curtis. As Harry's emotionally and physically scarred business manager, Marta, Varela's gets to express judgmental suspicion. Rounding out the sketchy female characters is British diplomat Francesca, played by Catherine McCormack (Braveheart). As Osnard's ice queen conquest, Francesca inexplicably melts faster than even the Panamanian heat would indicate.

Asking for credible female characters is not appropriate for The Tailor of Panama. This is a man's film. To wit, it was filmed on location in Panama City by director John Boorman (Deliverance, Hope and Glory), and has a gritty, seamy atmosphere that suits it well. This story isn't neat or pretty -- it's about perspiration and desperation. Those who are looking for a neat and fair resolution to the story will be disappointed, but should not be surprised. After all, Tailor's true antagonists are the naive, not the wicked.

Photo copyright: Columbia Tristar