Rotten
Though it attempts to make an acceptable theatrical entertainment out of a complex political saga, Hidden Agenda lacks bigscreen impact.
Variety Staff, Variety
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
Hidden Agenda
Overview
In Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan, 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, 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 and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
83%
Tomatometer
Fresh
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.
Stephen Garrett, Time Out
Fresh
This quietly explosive film comes to resonate more loudly than melodrama.
Caryn James, New York Times
Fresh
Ken Loach's Hidden Agenda must be the most buttoned-down movie about a conspiracy theory ever made.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Fresh
Its own terms and for much of the way, this is a superior thriller.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
More films
The Crying Game (1992)
Crime · Drama · Thriller · R
Irish Republican Army member Fergus forms an unexpected bond with Jody, a kidnapped British soldier in his custody, despite the warnings of fellow IRA members Jude and Maguire. Jody makes Fergus promise he'll visit his girlfriend, Dil, in London, and when Fergus flees to the city, he seeks her out. Hounded by his former IRA colleagues,...
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Director
- Neil Jordan
- Cast
- Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Jaye Davidson
IMDb
7.2
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
Metacritic
90
Snow (1963)
Documentary · N/A
Comprising train and track footage quickly shot just before a heavy winter's snowfall was melting, the multi-award-winning classic that emerged from the cutting-room compresses British Rail's dedication to blizzard-battling into a thrilling eight-minute montage cut to music. Tough-as-boots workers struggling to keep the line clear are ...
- Runtime
- 8m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.0
Rail (1967)
Documentary · N/A
"Rail" captures British Railways at a major turning-point in its history. In certain respects, this was a period of considerable upheaval and loss. There was a facing-up to the increasing need for a big modernisation drive. Full and speedy electrification, or the wider promotion of diesel-power on remaining lines, became a matter of to...
- Runtime
- 14m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.4
Locomotion (1975)
Documentary · N/A
Collage film about the history of trains set to music.
- Runtime
- 16m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.2
Shell Spirit (1963)
N/A
Directed by Geoffrey Jones.
- Runtime
- 2m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
6.8
Comments
Talk about the film with other members