The Secret Agent

The key to making a successful political thriller is to maintain a taught sense of mesmerizing, edge-of-the-seat intrigue. Unfortunately, that’s precisely the element that’s missing in this overlong, annoyingly convoluted tale set in 1977 Brazil during the waning days of its military dictatorship. The story follows the life of Armando (Wagner Moura), a former university researcher targeted for manipulation and framing by a corrupt, influential businessman (Luciano Chirolli) when the educator refuses to play ball with him. This, in turn, leads to a death threat against Armando, who must do ...

This film looks great. Brazil is such a cool place. I want to go live in this time...but as a rich white guy visiting who doesn't have to deal with the apparent horrors. Perhaps we could do a The Secret Agent 2 starring me.

I'd probably have to duck while using the phone booth. I crouch well.

Fun story. Interesting characters. Great! I bet this will get a Hollywood redux in a few years....

First things first: if you’re expecting something from “U.N.C.L.E.” via Ian Fleming then you are probably going to be disappointed. This isn’t that kind of drama. Instead, it follows three characters portrayed by Wagner Moura who have to navigate a series of political intrigues that begin in 1970s Brazil. Academic “Marcelo” (aka “Armando”) has arrived in his home city of Recife under some sort of cloak of secrecy; is being shielded by the wily “Dona Sebastiana” (a scene-stealing Tânia Maria) and some other citizens more inclined to freedom and is soon searching the local f...

Don't watch this as a "thriller", as it isn't thrilling. See it instead as an artistic take on how political corruption destroys everything in its path and does so with a nearly unstoppable force. Excellent and believable performances, great effort to re-create a 70s atmosphere, although the script could have taken a bit more polish....

It helps to have at least a passing understanding of Brazil’s political landscape in the 1970s when approaching Kleber Mendonça Filho’s **THE SECRET AGENT**. Ruled by a military dictatorship until the mid-1980s, the country still carries the traumatic residue of injustice and repression.

Once regarded as a relative moderate who would guide Brazil back toward democracy, General Ernesto Geisel has since been reassessed in light of declassified government files. Those records confirmed what many long suspected: Geisel presided over a police state that targeted and executed perceived polit...