Hidden Agenda

Description

Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Frances McDormand (Fargo) and Brian Cox (Rob Roy) confront danger and deception at every turn in this "chilling, explosive" (The New York Times)story set in strife-torn Northern Ireland. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Hidden Agenda is a "taut political thriller" (The Hollywood Reporter) that "makes the unthinkable seem all too plausible" (The Washington Post). American activists Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif) and his fiancÃ(c)e Ingrid Jessner (McDormand) journey to Belfast to probe allegations of brutal human rights abuses by British security forces. When Paul is killed under mysterious circumstances, the official reports list him as an I.R.A. accomplice. But Ingrid and British policeman Paul Kerrigan (Cox) question the findings and begin to uncover a shocking high-level conspiracy. Now, with their safety in jeopardy, they must decide whether to risk everything to reveal the truth. *1996: Actress

Customer Reviews:

Hidden Agenda.......2007-07-08

This is a tell it like it was and unfortunately still is in Northern Irelan in this year 2007. It shows the power a a dominating goverment and how they will not let go and how so many suffer because of a political agenda, which is "HIDDEN------Slainte
Donal Murphy II

Hidden Agenda.......2007-05-13

Accurately portrays the struggles of the Irish people in their quest to have a united and free Ireland ruled by the Irish.

Terrorism in Ulster.......2007-01-13

The film opens with a scenic shot of the shores of Ireland. Then a march down a city street. The police and army are patrolling behind the crowds. Then we see investigators questioning a suspect who was beaten and tortured by the authorities. They hold a press conference to announce their findings. Other reporters question them about allegations of a "shoot to kill" policy that targeted innocent civilians. The killing and torture in the Six Counties remind one reporter of Chile after their coup. But Northern Ireland isn't quite like Chile, is it? One of the reporters makes a call to get more information. He meets a man, and their car is ambushed; they are both murdered. The official news is that they refused to stop for a police checkpoint.

The British send their top police detective to re-examine the evidence that led to the shooting of Paul Sullivan and Frank Malloy. The ballistics show Sullivan was shot at 2 meters, not from far away. Something's wrong here. Mr. Kerrigan talks to Ingrid Jensen, the close friend of Sullivan, who tells about what she knows. They talk to the widow of Frank Malloy. When they question one of the police officers, and he tells them what really happened. Superintendent Frazier told them what to say. Frazier was merely following orders from higher authorities - a Mr. Brody. Kerrigan can't get the missing tape. At a club Kerrigan is told about the other colonies that had to fight for their freedom from English rule. Kerrigan meets a former British officer, Captain Harris, who worked in Psychological Operations - Black Propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The CIA and MI5 spread rumors to defeat the Labor government; this benefited the election of Margaret Thatcher. [Was she a puppet?] Kerrigan will meet him again in Dublin to get the tape that will expose the plot.

There were disorders in England in the early 1970s that led to the fall of the Conservative government. Two powerful politicians, smug, sleek, and smiling, tell Kerrigan why the means used to uphold the government are justified; they say so. One shows Kerrigan photographs of him and Ingrid that can create a scandal. The pressure is on for him to drop the investigation. Captain Harris hands over the tape to Ingrid Jensen. After this he is abducted from a busy street in daylight and thrown into a waiting van. We later hear he was found murdered, and the IRA is blamed. Another propaganda trick? Career policeman Kerrigan returns to England. The low-level agents will take the blame. The status quo is maintained.

The slow pace of this film reminds me of "All the President's Men" but without the happy ending. It will educate you about the troubles in Ulster. Do these dirty tricks only occur in Ulster? Note how very little of this news is ever reported in America.

Superior political thriller.......2006-10-29

Ken Loach's Hidden Agenda is likely one of the best political thrillers ever made on the troubles in Northern Ireland. The characters are full and rich; the violence is real; and the political cover-ups and corruption are rife. The acting is solid, the plotting is very strong, and the pace of the film is perfect.

In particular, drawing in not only the Northern Irish, but also the British and the Americans into the story was a truly inspired move. An American lawyer who fights for civil rights throughout the world is murdered by the Northern Irish police under orders from a high level official and all hell breaks loose. Unlike the flimsy, paltry political cover-ups seen in the film "Defense of the Realm" where there are no characters worth caring about, here Brad Dourif as the lawyer, Frances McDormand as his activist girlfriend and especially Brian Cox as the fiercely driven British police officer committed to uncovering the truth make a solid impression on the viewer.

Known for his politically charged films, director Ken Loach here never takes a false step. Cox's character, Peter Kerrigan, relentlessly pursues the truth of the backstory behind the murder of the American lawyer and it's really gripping to watch how things unfold.

This is a first class thriller, one of the best in its class. Very highly recommended.

Excellent And Very Underrated Film!.......2006-10-19

If you like political intrigue and suspense, this film is for you. A civil rights lawyer (Brad Dourif) working for a human rights organization is investigating alleged atrocities and civil rights violations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by both the police and the British military. He interviews and takes notes of these violations for an impending report to be released to the press. However, when he leaves for a meeting with an individual who wants to remain anonymous [with good reason] he is assassinated. Who killed him? Why was he killed? And who was the man he was supposed to meet? The film answers these mysterious questions when a well known investigator is sent to review the case.

The man sent (Brian Cox) is well known is the international community, and has a reputation for fair-mindedness. As he delves into the case, he finds that there is a secret directive, and organization within the British Intelligence division operating out of Belfast. And taking their orders from some very well-connected individuals [no spoilers] The film works very well on many levels. As Brian Cox's character delves deeper into the mystery of the murder, he meets the person that (Brad Dourif) the civil rights lawyer was supposed to rendevous with. It is then he learns more than he was meant to. The film is slow paced, and some may not find this appealing. However, I did. The film is very suspenseful, and full of twists. Highly recommended!

Judge John Deed Season 2 2-DVD Set (Rough Justice / Duty of Care / Appropriate Response / Hidden Agenda) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

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Judge John Deed Season 2 2-DVD Set (Rough Justice / Duty of Care / Appropriate Response / Hidden Agenda) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Manufacturer: Just Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

"Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Dutch (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SYNOPSIS: Rough Justice: Judge Deed is presiding over two cases, both of which are particularly challenging. In the first, three men have been charged with drugging and raping a woman they met in a bar. Deed is particularly concerned at the defense counsel's aggressive tactics... Duty of Care: Jo Mills is prosecuting a case of a construction site manager and foreman who are charged with not taking proper precautions when a young 19 year old is killed in an accident on his first day on the job. The accused worked for Mike Briggs, a tyrannical managing director who had no time for health and safety issues and constantly pushed to get more work done... Appropriate Response: Roberto Romero is released after serving 8 years of a 12 year sentence and he has only one objective - to seek revenge on Judge Deed who he sees as the person primarily responsible for putting him behind bars. He harasses the judge and his daughter and even poisons his dog... Hidden Agenda: Dr. Helena Bellew is charged with murder in the care of an elderly cancer patient after his family learns that the doctor is to inherit the old man's estate. She is accused of administering an overdose of pain killers but the science is not clear cut on the issue. Judge Deed's handling of the case brings him again into conflict with Sir Ian Richardson and the Lord Chancellor's Department... SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Box Set, Interactive Menu, "

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The truth isnýt always murder

Hidden Agenda
Starring: Kevin Dillon , Andrea Roth , J.T. Walsh , Christopher Plummer , and Michael Wincott
Director: Iain Paterson
Manufacturer: Spartan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305610282
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Customer Reviews:

The truth isnýt always murder.......2001-04-17

This thriller is supported by uncluttered and steadily paced direction by writer/director Iain Paterson and Kevin Dillon in the leading role of the brother of an American killed in re-unified Berlin. The opening sequence of a clandestine deal shattered by betrayals of loyalty tells us that Paterson hasn't chosen his locale as Berlin for naught, and soon we're mired in the webs of the US embassy, the German police, and the STASI, the former East German secret police. Whilst he occasionally falls back on formula with the I forgot something in my office routine, and the scream of a maid who discovers a corpse gets a laugh because of the cliche, Paterson also shows some originality. The crying of horses in a stable whilst guns are pointed is relieved by the use of a horseshoe as a weapon, we immediately know someone is an hitman because he stubs out a cigarette on the floor of a church, there is an unusual eye torture, and a love scene is interrupted by an external assassination attempt. The water from a puddle splashed onto the camera by a motorbike in a chase is a bit too self-conscious, but I liked a cut from a business name on a letter to the same name on the building. Paterson's script can sometimes be rudimentary, with characters repeating questions as their answer, but there is an amusing "just say no" joke in response to an offer of drugs. One can have fun projecting onto the brother plot considering the casting of Dillon, who shares Matt's semi-stupid personage, but Kevin's polite likeability overcomes the need for him to be an action hero. There is an end credit tribute to JT Walsh who presumably died post-production. Whilst his role doesn't set off fireworks he does get to wear a silly fut hat, and he plays well off Christopher Plummer doing his charming old man act as the head of police.

Hidden Agenda, Vol. 6: No Place to Hide, The Strategy & Tactics of Terrorism

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Hidden Agenda, Vol. 6: No Place to Hide, The Strategy & Tactics of Terrorism
Starring: Various
Manufacturer: UFO TV
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Terrorism - A World in Shadows (Box Set)

ASIN: 6305497850
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Description

The most intelligent, in-depth documentary ever produced on the single most significant UFO incident known to man.

Based on the research of Kevin Randle and Don Schmitt, two of the foremost UFO investigators on the Roswell crash — and written, produced and directed by Mark Wolf.

Customer Reviews:

Dolph's worst movie.......2007-08-22

This movie got some good reviews and I expected it to be a return to form for Dolph Lundgren. Instead, I found this to be his worst movie. The script is more or less completely incoherent. I lost interest within a couple of minutes and found myself checking my watch, hoping the movie would end soon. I wouldn't recommend this movie even to Dolph Lundgren fans. I am a fan but I wish I had spent my time watching something else.

One of dolphs best.......2003-04-27

To be clear this is definatly not dolphs best film, but it is nowhere near his worst. I would say its one of the better directed and produced movie he was in. His performance in the movie is probally in the top five of his career. The action scenes... Well they are very well staged and look real good. The director tried to make them resemble brotherhood of the wolf a little bit, and he didn't really succed. But the directors real weakness in the action was the gunfights. He did not stage them right and didn't do a job editing them. The real flaw of the movie was the last gunfight it was a major letdown. Still a solid movie with a some good action sequences 4 stars!!

Bad Movie.......2003-04-06

Despite the fact that I'm a Dolph Lundgren fan, I hated this movie. It was hard to stay awake watching it. Boring! The movie is way too slow. In this movie he is a restaurateur with two computer experts working for him. There are two main women in the film who have a minor romantic connection with Dolph, but it fails to please, partly because these women aren't that attractive. In Dolph's films that were make before 1993 the ladies were always attractive and sexy. In this movie, all the woman are strong, but not sexy. Upon the first encounter with one of the women, she immediately starts trying to punch him. Then, there is a restaurant brawl, and of course, she beats up a man.
Dolph does have some fight scenes in this movie but you have to wait a long time to get to them, and they aren't that great.

Dolph is a disgrace to his own IQ.......2003-03-21

This movie is a sad attempt to do an action movie. Dolph has stared in some good action movies, but this one is not one of them. The story is bad and the acting is even worse, Dolph get his ... kicked all the time but wins in the end.
He has an IQ of 140 but that doesnt help him to know which movies he should aviod starring in.

However all of you who want ot see, know you have a choice.
if you buy it, you will regret it, if you rent it you will wish you choosed another.

Possibly Dolphs best ever!!.......2002-03-09

As a long time Dolph fan the last few years have not been kind. Dolph has churned out films irregularly and most have been bad. Nearly a year after my last "new Dolph film" Hidden Agenda has finally arrived in my mailbox. Dolphs last was the dire Agent Red. So the long awaited release of Hidden Agenda left me concerned and as I loaded up the DVD in excitment the rather blocky, crude and dull graphic that said lions gate entertainment popped up filling me with more concern.
I then started the movie and from minute 1 to the end the movie screamed class! it looks every inch an A movie, from the cinematography to the explosive action scenes and considering this was shot on a budget, most likely, no more than 10 million thats quite something. Of course the glossy overcoat of the movies visuals are thanks to cinematographer Sylvain Brault, who has been nominated for several awards in his field including an Emmy.
Anyway the plot is good and so is the dialogue. It also seems that research has gone into the various gadgets that these sort of agencies use. The direction is surprsingly first class from Marc S Grenier and I hope Dolph works with him again. His style is reminiscent of John Woo and the Wachowsky Brothers, from the slo-mo fight scenes and gun play to the subtle sound editing used. This is a well written thriller and it features more than enough action sequences for this type of flick. Dolph's martial arts are utilized to full effect thanks to the direction, editing and choreography and we also get the best out of Dolph in the acting department. If you prefer the more all out action approach for a Dolph flick then this will not float your boat in the same way as the Punisher but if you want Dolph in something more clever which also includes impressive action then you should definately purchase this. Whatever your Dolph preferance this is worthy of a rental. I personally think this was his best. It had a good mix of top acting, story and action as well as top draw cinematography and features some impressive explosions. The fight scenes remind me of those in Brotherhood of the Wolf, from the stylish tendancies to the bone crunching sound effects. The few gripes are that at times it gets a little overly complicated and occasionally some shots are quite dark. Also the ending was a minor let down especially compared to the brilliant opening. Still great film that was easily worthy of a theatrical release.

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Hidden Agenda, Vol. 1
Starring: Hidden Agenda
Manufacturer: UFO TV
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001I559C
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Description

Discover the history of an elite group that maintains absolute power over the global economy. This unique film exposes how this group is shielded by governments, exerts enormous influence over education and mass media and succeeds in creating money from nothing.

The film reveals how elitists manipulate the geo-political landscape by both demonizing and financially supporting Communist countries. And by creating an exaggerated fear of nuclear war they succeed in persuading people to embrace their hidden agenda: a world government controlled by them.

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Hidden Agenda: Real Conspiracies That Affect Our Lives
Starring: Various
Manufacturer: UFO TV
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Terrorstorm - A History of Government Sponsored Terrorism

Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK 2006 (FKCUK)

ASIN: B0001I55A6
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Description

Tragic events through out our history have been guided behind closed doors by unseen forces with a "Hidden Agenda" to manipulate governments and institutions, control the resources of our planet and shape the way we think.

This series retraces the history of "Real Conspiracies That Affect Our Lives Today." Includes the entire Hidden Agenda series from the research of G. Edward Griffin.

Includes the following presentations:
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 1: The Capitalist Conspiracy, Inside View Of International Banking
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 2: The Subversion Factor, A History Of Treason In Modern America
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 3: The Truth About Communism
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 4: Anarchy Usa, In The Name Of Civil Rights
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 5: Katanga, The Untold Story Of Un Betrayal
- Hidden Agenda Vol. 6: No Place To Hide, The Strategy & Tactics Of Terrorism

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Hidden Agenda, Vol. 5: Katanga, The Untold Story (Of Un Betrayal)
Starring: Roswell
Manufacturer: UFO TV
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305497842
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Description

Exposed: The shocking story of how the United Nations from 1960-1962 under the guise of a peacekeeping force waged unprovoked war against the anti-Communist state of Katanga, forcing it under the control of the Communist puppet-state of the Central Congo (now called Zaire.)

This story of gross political misadventure must be heard, for, unless Congress intervenes, an increasing number of UN military actions masquerading as a Protection from Communism will no doubt be used to implement a duplicitous New World Order agenda.

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Hidden Agenda, Vol. 3
Starring: Hidden Agenda
Manufacturer: UFO TV
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001I559W
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Description

This program is presented in two parts.

Part 1: The Truth About Communism presents the violent rise of the Soviet Empire from the chaos of revolution to the terror of the Cold War and is charted using remarkable footage of actual events. This is the best collection of historical film footage on the topic of Communist Imperialism ever assembled.

Customer Reviews:

The truth isnýt always murder.......2001-04-17

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