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Bob Hoskins, Patricia Arquette, Gérard Depardieu, George Spelvin, Robin Williams ... see more see more... , Jim Broadbent , Christian Bale , Eddie Izzard , Elizabeth Spriggs , Peter Vaughan , Julian Wadham

In this adaptation of the novel by Joseph Conrad, Mr. Verloc (Bob Hoskins) runs a shabby corner shop in London that serves as a front for his more profitable sideline, selling pornography. However, se... read more read more...lling sex photos is not Verloc's main order of business; he is a member of an anarchist organization, and he holds meetings in his apartment where he and his fellows plot the violent overthrow of the government. Verloc does not actually share the beliefs of his fellows -- he is in fact a double agent working with the Russians to sabotage the actions of revolutionary exiles while passing information about the anarchists along to Police Inspector Heat (Jim Broadbent). Verloc is married to Winnie (Patricia Arquette), a pretty but dour young woman who doesn't care for her husband and has married only in hopes that she would be able to afford a decent home for her brother Stevie (Christian Bale), who is mentally retarded. Inspector Heat informs Verloc that the anarchists must commit some sort of major violent action soon if the police are ever going to put any of them behind bars, so Verloc persuades the Professor (Robin Williams) to help him plant some bombs, which leads to tragedy for everyone involved. Robin Williams appears unbilled in The Secret Agent; in some listings, his role is credited to George Spelvin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

40% liked it

1,761 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

10 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Christopher Hampton

Release Date: November 8, 1996

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DVD Release Date: June 7, 2005

Stats: 54 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (54)

  • puffchunk
    August 1, 2008
    puffchunk
    Let's review: Christian Bale plays a retard who gets blown up by a bomb, Bob Hoskins gets knifed in the chest, Eddie Izzard has the worst Russian accent of all time, Robin Williams is uncredited and plays a terrorist, and Patricia Arquette plays a brittish woman making her terrib... read morele teeth acceptable. What's the point of all this? Nobody knows. A bunch of stuff happens and then the movie ends, but it wasn't un-enjoyable.
  • threefolddado
    July 8, 2008
    threefolddado
    Maintains interest with story and great cast.
  • daftkitty
    July 1, 2007
    daftkitty
    Incredible cast, and incredibly disjointed story. They should have chucked the script and kept with Robin William's mad bomber character...

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
July 30, 2009
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Drab and inept version of the great 1907 novel by Joseph Conrad on terrorism. Full Review

Frank Ochieng
June 7, 2003
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com

A nostalgic sleepy and literate period piece spy drama that periodically captures your attention when least expected. Not as stimulating as one could imagine but nevertheless credible

Rob Vaux
July 27, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

An underrated historical thriller... watch for Robin Williams in a very creepy cameo.

Stephen Holden
August 30, 2004
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 22, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

No review available.

May 22, 2001
Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

November 8, 1996
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
October 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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The Secret Agent Trivia

  • In which movie does Geena Davis play a mother who has forgotten her memory and then gets it back realizing she really is a highly trained secret agent and killer?  Answer »
  • In the Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", which actor portrayed the secret agent 007?  Answer »
  • He had been in a sinking ship , a prisoner in the Bastille , a secret agent & the FBI's most wanted list for forgery  Answer »
  • He appeared in Newsies, The Secret Agent, and American Psycho.  Answer »
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