Suspenseful but fiendishly complex...

Though touching on a le Carre-like web of loyalties, ambition and hidden agendas, the film is generally less engrossing than that might suggest...

Stylistically, there are echoes of such notable '70s American political thrillers as "Parallax View" and "The Conversation." Even if you're not sure what's going on at any given moment, it is never less than compelling.

It’s not the easiest film to break into, especially for viewers unfamiliar with the tale, but it rewards those who commit with a tense period drama and a grim vision of how political power really functions.