The Secret Agent (2025)

I’ve always enjoyed watching international films. There’s just something about them I love more than American films. I don’t know how to explain it but they’ve always had a special place in my life. Whether it’s kung fu films, crime thrillers, or dramas, they usually seem to get it right. Unfortunately, I did not feel that way when I went to see The Secret Agent. I know this movie got a ton of buzz and a few Oscar nominations but that doesn’t really mean much to me if my heavily immersed brain feels like it’s going to shut down at some point. I really wanted to like this movie but at some point, I just kept asking myself when it would end. And, I don’t think it  helped that the film is 2 hrs and 41 minutes long and my theater was super small and cramped. I know I’m definitely not the only one who felt this way about the film. I read another review where somebody said they would have cut at least an hour of this movie off and I wholeheartedly agree. Also, I noticed most of the people in the theater getting antsy and moving around a lot, so that should tell you something. I guess I have more to say about this political thriller, so let’s take a look at what it brings to the table.

     Wagner Moura stars as Marcelo, a quiet academic on the run during Brazil’s turbulent 1977 military dictatorship, as he returns to Recife during Carnival hoping to reconnect with his family and find refuge. But the festive chaos of the city masks an oppressive political climate, forcing him to navigate a landscape of suspicion, danger, and shifting alliances. I do have some positive things about this viewing so, it only seems fair that I mention those. The only other thing I know Wagner Moura from is Narcos and I thought it was cool to see him in something else, especially since he acted his ass off in this flick. Actually, the whole cast was amazing here and I think they should all be proud of what they accomplished. Another thing was the tension building at some points. Despite the long running time, I thought the movie nailed the tension when it got there. The only problem with that is that I wasn’t sure when it was ever going to happen. I also like that this film used grindhouse stylization to match the time period of the film. I thought that was pretty cool. But, despite the good things I mentioned, it didn’t feel like enough for me. Maybe I missed something or maybe somebody sees something that I don’t but I guess even I have my moments where a positively reviewed film doesn’t stick with me the way I hope it would. In a way, I kind of feel bad about what I’m saying after all the positive things I’ve heard about this movie but if anyone knows anything about me, it’s that I’m as brutally honest as they come and I’m just saying how it was for me.

     It’s pretty obvious that this was in no way, shape, or form my favorite film of the year but I did think Wagner Moura deserved his Oscar nomination for Best Actor. He is a huge talent, I’ll say that. But, aside from that and the good parts I mentioned, the only positive thing I can take away from this experience is that it gave me another film to check off the list of Best Picture nominations that I’ve seen. Overall, I’d have to give this movie a 6 out of 10. I’m not sure who I’d recommend this film to but I’m sure there’s somebody out there who would probably get more of a kick out of it then I did. So if you want to see it, go ahead, and if you don’t, don’t. I’ve seen a lot of thrillers that hit the bullseye but for me, this just wasn’t one of them.