Themes: Political Corruption, Conspiracies, Americans Abroad
Main Cast: Frances McDormand, Brian Cox, Brad Dourif, Mai Zetterling, Bernard Archard, Bernard Bloch
Release Year: 1990
Country: UK
Run Time: 108 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This political thriller is set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland's "Troubles" and directed in the documentary fashion common to British filmmaker Ken Loach's films. Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif) and Ingrid Jessner (Frances McDormand) are American attorneys serving on a human rights group working to monitor cases of prisoner mistreatment in war-torn Belfast. When Paul learns of some information that may be injurious to the Thatcher government, he is killed, and a top-secret tape disappears. Assigned to the case, Inspector Kerrigan (Brian Cox) is joined by Ingrid in probing Paul's death, which seems to be related to rumors of a high-ranking cabal within the British government working to undermine the Irish Republican Army and liberal policies toward Irish separatists through violent and illegal means. Ingrid meets with Harris (Maurice Roeves), a former British Secret Service agent who's now turned on his former cronies. Together, they look for the top-secret tape. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
In the tradition of political thrillers such as Missing and Z, Ken Loach's Hidden Agenda is a fictionalized story that makes use of real-life events and figures. A former documentarian, Loach approaches the material in a powerful, straightforward manner that emphasizes the strengths of the script, the characters, the actors, and the situation, rather than resorting to technical means (quick cuts, mesmerizing angles, etc.) to give the film its texture and tension. There are grit and realism in Loach's world, and he eschews exoticism for the everyday -- dark pubs, small restaurants, building lobbies, back alleys, etc. His people bear the mark of those who have been involved in a long struggle, one that seems to sap and drain life from them. They breathe real, not always clean, air -- a rarity in mysteries of this sort, which often traffic in the rich and beautiful. Loach's cast is excellent, especially Brian Cox, who knows how to make quiet and stillness into a powerful presence, and Frances McDormand, whose ability to portray a range of emotions is well used. Although the pace occasionally falters, overall Hidden Agenda is a first-rate thriller that will move as well as entertain viewers. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
John Benfield - Maxwell; Maurice Roeves - Harris; Michelle Fairley - Teresa Doyle; Oliver Maguire - Supt. Fraser; Maureen Bell - Mrs. Molloy; Stephen Brigden - Army Major; Victoria Scott D'Angelo - Journalist; Kym Dyson - Carol; Gerry Fearon - Taxi Driver; Llew Gardner - TV Announcer; Ron Kavana; Patrick Kavanaugh - Alec Nevin; John Keegan - Detective Sergeant Hughts; Ivan Little - TV Reporter; Desmond McAleer - Sgt. Kennedy; Jim McAllister - Liam Philibin; Bryan McCann - Molloy; John McDonnell - Labour MP; Ian McElhinney - Jack Cunningham; Mandy McIlwaine - RUC Policewoman; Robert Patterson - Ian Logan; Kathleen Smith - News Reporter; George Staines - Tall Man; Terry Woods - Musician; Jim Norton - Brodie
Credit
Nigel Phelps - Art Director, Daphne Dare - Costume Designer, Ken Loach - Director, Jonathan Morris - Editor, Stewart Copeland - Composer (Music Score), Louise Fisher - Makeup, Martin Johnson - Production Designer, Clive Tickner - Cinematographer, John Daly - Producer, Eric Fellner - Producer, Derek Gibson - Producer, Rebecca O'Brien - Producer, Vendetta Effects - Special Effects, Jim Allen - Screenwriter
During one scene late in the movie, a renegade SAS agent possessing an audio tape that incriminates the British government is kidnapped by an SAS squad and bundled into a van on O'Connell Bridge in Dublin, a very busy river crossing in the center of the city. Loach filmed the scene with a hidden camera and without letting passers-by know that they were witnessing a movie shoot.[citation needed]
