Hidden Agenda

Theatrical Release Date: 1990 11 21 (USA)

UPC: 027616874849

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language]

Summary: 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, Rovi

Category: Thriller

Awards: Jury Prize – Cannes Film Festival

Features: Original theatrical trailer

Hidden Agenda

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 04/16/2002

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen, 1.33:1 Pre-1954 Standard

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 109 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 -- Widescreen
1. Main Title/Parade [4:09]
2. Passing the Tape [7:04]
3. Who's Behind Them? [7:32]
4. Immediate Aftermath [6:17]
5. The Inquiry Begins [12:05]
6. The Harris Factor [10:07]
7. The Tape and the List [5:02]
8. Message From Harris [1:43]
9. Arrest/Interrogations [1:51]
10. "...Reign of Terror" [9:00]
11. What Harris Knows [5:34]
12. Freedom?/Blackmail [8:54]
13. A Lifetime Wasted? [10:27]
14. Ingrid Gets the Tape [4:11]
15. How Fascism Starts [4:56]
16. End Credits [7:22]
Side #2 -- Standard
1. Main Title/Parade [4:09]
2. Passing the Tape [7:03]
3. Who's Behind Them? [7:32]
4. Immediate Aftermath [6:17]
5. The Inquiry Begins [12:05]
6. The Harris Factor [10:06]
7. The Tape and the List [5:02]
8. Message From Harris [1:44]
9. Arrest/Interrogations [1:51]
10. "...Reign of Terror" [8:59]
11. What Harris Knows [5:34]
12. Freedom?/Blackmail [8:54]
13. A Lifetime Wasted? [10:27]
14. Ingrid Gets the Tape [4:11]
15. How Fascism Starts [4:55]
16. End Credits [7:22]

Craig Butler

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, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Llew Gardner  Actor 
Bryan McCann  Actor 
George Staines  Actor 
Stephen Brigden  Actor 
Patrick Kavanaugh  Actor 
Ivan Little  Actor 
Mandy McIlwaine  Actor 
Jim Norton  Actor 
Desmond McAleer  Actor 
Ron Kavana  Actor 
John McDonnell  Actor 
Terry Woods  Actor 
Kym Dyson  Actor 
Robert Patterson  Actor 
Victoria Scott D'Angelo  Actor 
John Keegan  Actor 
Ian McElhinney  Actor 
Maureen Bell  Actor 
Gerry Fearon  Actor 
Jim McAllister  Actor 
Kathleen Smith  Actor 
Jim Allen  Screenwriter 
Stewart Copeland  Composer (Music Score) 
John Daly  Producer 
Eric Fellner  Producer 
Derek Gibson  Producer 
Ken Loach  Director 
Rebecca O'Brien  Producer 
Frances McDormand  Actor 
Brian Cox  Actor 
Brad Dourif  Actor 
Mai Zetterling  Actor 
Bernard Archard  Actor 
Bernard Bloch  Actor 
John Benfield  Actor 
Maurice Roeves  Actor 
Michelle Fairley  Actor 
Oliver Maguire  Actor 

Country: UK