Reilly: Ace of Spies

A remarkable dramatic series, Reilly: Ace of Spies chronicles the real-life exploits (between 1905 to 1925) of Sidney Reilly, perhaps the first modern secret agent and a significant figure in events that helped to shape the 20th century. An Odessa-born Jew originally known as Sigmund Rosenblum to the British intelligence community, Reilly changed his name to help obscure his personal history and became a major player in securing Western access to Middle Eastern oil. At the same time, he secretly gauged the amount of oil Russia could tap from its own land, simultaneously spied on Germany and Russia by commissioning the former to build ships for the latter, and helped spearhead efforts to overthrow the Bolsheviks by arranging an assassination attempt on Lenin (he also later tried--at great personal risk--to arrange the killing of Stalin). Throughout, Reilly built personal wealth through ethically dubious means, was something of a womanizer, and maintained a cold and ruthless detachment, trusting his own counsel far more than the wisdom of his superiors. In many ways, he is the prototype for James Bond, and as played (superbly) by Sam Neill, Reilly emerges as a thoroughly fascinating if sometimes unfathomable character, capable of acting in intense self-interest while also helping to move and shake global events. A wonderful blend of historical fact and conjecture, Reilly: Ace of Spies was co-directed by Martin Campbell, who went on to helm Pierce Brosnan's first outing as Bond, GoldenEye. DVD extras include the excellent A&E Vanishings episode "Life of Reilly, The Super Spy" about the real Reilly. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice (T. Keogh)