The Secret Agent

This time, screenwriter Christopher Hampton, who only directs occasionally, tried to make a classic. Hampton had already artfully processed Choderlos de Laclos, the relationship between Verlaine and Rimbaud, a new take on Jekyll and Hyde, and this time he returned to Joseph Conrad's substance, which Hitchcock had already filmed in the 1930s as The Woman Alone. However, unlike Hitchcock, he took the story back to the 1890s and focused on stories of little people aspiring to big things. The ending is very suspenseful and the whole thing is very well played out until the last minute. She (Patricia Arquette) just wanted a supportive environment for her brother (Christian Bale), while he (Bob Hoskins) wanted to turn the tide of history, and in reality, all they both had was just a little shop... That couldn't end well. Veterans such as Depardieu and Williams can also be seen in smaller roles. Mostly, though, I'd recommend looking at Hampton's adaptation work in general, because he was the one who worked on hits based on Ian McEwan or Colette in later years, and it was he who brought us the story of Jung and Freud again. Which is a damn inspiring choice of topics. (12/01/2019)

The Secret Agent is a purely average affair in terms of direction, but it can offer the viewer a strong story with a thrilling plot, a very decent cast, with some actors being cast in atypical roles (that is especially true for Robin Williams, who played a completely negative serious role compared to his usual characters), and interesting music by the proven Philip Glass. Overall impression: 60%. Despite the directorial shortcomings, the film exudes an atmosphere of a turn of the century full of social tensions and anarchistic outbursts. (07/04/2009)