Michael Caine delivers a performance that holds up to scrutiny. His portrayal of "Preston" stands in stark contrast to Sir Alec Guinness’s “George Smiley”—he's a direct, unsentimental intelligence operative who chafes at following orders. As he approaches retirement and is put on the back burner, a seemingly simple death draws his attention. Simultaneously, KGB agent "Petrofsky" (Pierce Brosnan) arrives in Britain an…