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Hidden Agenda

Play trailer Poster for Hidden Agenda R 1990 1h 48m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner (Frances McDormand) and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif), struggle to uncover atrocities committed by the British government against the Northern Irish during the "Troubles." But when Sullivan is assassinated in the streets, Jessner teams up with Peter Kerrigan (Brian Cox), a British investigator acting against the will of his own government, and struggles to uncover a conspiracy that may even implicate one of Kerrigan's colleagues.
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Hidden Agenda

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety Though it attempts to make an acceptable theatrical entertainment out of a complex political saga, Hidden Agenda lacks bigscreen impact. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Stephen Garrett Time Out There's plenty of evidence of Loach's undiminished power as a film-maker, and equally ample evidence that something is very rotten in the state of Northern Ireland. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Caryn James New York Times This quietly explosive film comes to resonate more loudly than melodrama. Rated: 3.5/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch A fascinating look at the slippery slope to complicity, this is a gripping, unabashedly ideological conspiracy thriller blending Hollywood polish with gritty reality. Oct 28, 2023 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Hidden Agenda does sometimes feel like rather talky stage-play, but thanks to an increasingly emotive performance from Cox, the film manages to break into some energetic moments. Rated: 3/5 Oct 20, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Moving fictionalized political thriller that's based on fact. Rated: A May 26, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A decent, fairly gripping and well-acted, yet slow-moving and conventional political thriller. The most disappointing thing about it, though, is that it—based on what I've seen by him thus far—doesn't feel like a Ken Loach film. (7/10) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Drawn out but well written. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member This should have broken out of the American Art House circuit and gotten a fist full of Oscar noms. The most underrated film of 1990. Essential. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member The conflict surrounding Northern Ireland will never be understandable. This film portrays one incident - true or not - and captures the spirit and emotions and terror in Belfast in the early 80s. It's political. It's good. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Brian Cox is immense in this fine political thriller from legendary British director Ken Loach. Set in Ulster during the troubles it mainly focuses on the British governments shoot to kill policy. Cox stars as the dectective hired to investigate the murder of an American human rights lawyer. Frances McDormand offers fine support as they both set out to recover a missing tape that can expose Thatchers government. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Good film with some very good performances by the cast. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Hidden Agenda

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Hidden Agenda

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Movie Info

Synopsis In Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner (Frances McDormand) and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif), struggle to uncover atrocities committed by the British government against the Northern Irish during the "Troubles." But when Sullivan is assassinated in the streets, Jessner teams up with Peter Kerrigan (Brian Cox), a British investigator acting against the will of his own government, and struggles to uncover a conspiracy that may even implicate one of Kerrigan's colleagues.
Director
Ken Loach
Producer
Eric Fellner
Production Co
Hemdale, Initial
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$69.2K
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Surround
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