Is there a mole in the heart of the British intelligence? That simple question unravels into a massive pile of tangled threads, complex histories and illusive associations in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” a meticulous Cold War thriller with a brooding atmosphere.

Director Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) makes all the right moves in differentiating this adaptation of the 1974 novel from other films in the genre. Characters are developed quickly and fully, and the extremely dense plot is set into a brisk motion that demands detective-like concentration from audiences. It’s not enough to just pay attention – if you aren’t actively problem-solving and picking up on queues hidden in the dialogue and facial expressions of the actors, you won’t enjoy this film. Except, of course, if you become taken with Gary Oldman’s mesmerizing – yes, mesmerizing – performance and realize that his turn as the quietly-erupting protagonist, George Smiley, is worth the ticket price.

Sex and violence isn’t exploited through extended erotic and dizzying scenes, as we’ve become accustomed to seeing in most high-production films of this nature. Instead, the real entertainment is rooted in rich storytelling and a heavily-present human element. But the whole experience can be a little exhausting and (although rewarding) may take a second run to absorb.