Hidden Agenda
Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand (Fargo) and Brian Cox (Rob Roy) confront danger and deception at every turn in this "chilling, explosive" (The New York Times) story set in strife- torn Northern Ireland. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Hidden Agenda is a "taut political thriller" (The Hollywood Reporter) that "makes the unthinkable seem all too plausible" (The Washington Post).
American activists Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif) and his fiancée Ingrid Jessner (McDormand) journey to Belfast to probe allegations of brutal human rights abuses by British security forces. When Paul is killed under mysterious circumstances, the official reports list him as an I.R.A. accomplice. But Ingrid and British policeman Paul Kerrigan (Cox) question the findings and begin to uncover a shocking high-level conspiracy. Now, with their safety in jeopardy, they must decide whether to risk everything to reveal the truth.
Member Reviews
Masterful - grapemanca
This is my favourite political thriller, and it's definitely one of my Top 10 movies of all time. Everything seems perfect: excellent acting (esp. Brian Cox), a gritty, documentary realism, and a palpable sense of paranoia. As the movie unfolds, you realize that the initial plot about the IRA has gravitated into a profound and entirely plausible political conspiracy. If you like intricate political thrillers, this is a sure bet.One of the great conspiracy movies - rnhaas
This is definitely one of the great conspiracy movies of all time. Loach is more subtle than many directors in portraying the surveillance and the viewer isn't totally sure it's more than a murder mystery for the first little while. Though the conspiracy itself is perhaps a little far fetched (though clearly inspired by Watergate), the ending is so amazing that it doesn't matter.An excellent political thriller - Tequila68
Hidden Agenda is an excellent addition to the political thriller genre (i.e. Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May, and the Parallax View). The story is compelling throughout, and the performances of McDormond and Cox are outstanding. The script is very anti-British, but that is the view point of Ken Loach and the screenwriters. Anybody looking for a thought-provoking, mature film should check this out.
Member Reviews
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Masterful - grapemanca
This is my favourite political thriller, and it's definitely one of my Top 10 movies of all time. Everything seems perfect: excellent acting (esp. Brian Cox), a gritty, documentary realism, and a palpable sense of paranoia. As the movie unfolds, you realize ...One of the great conspiracy movies - rnhaas
This is definitely one of the great conspiracy movies of all time. Loach is more subtle than many directors in portraying the surveillance and the viewer isn't totally sure it's more than a murder mystery for the first little while. Though the conspiracy ...An excellent political thriller - Tequila68
Hidden Agenda is an excellent addition to the political thriller genre (i.e. Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May, and the Parallax View). The story is compelling throughout, and the performances of McDormond and Cox are outstanding. The script is very ...