I had never heard of "Hidden Agenda" and probably never would've if it hadn't been on 4-movie compilation DVD I recently bought called "SCI-FI COLLECTOR'S SET." After watching the film I wonder why it's included on a "Sci-Fi" DVD, because "Hidden Agenda" has absolutely no science-fiction elements whatsoever, it's a fairly standard spy/espionage caper. I didn't mind, as I also happen to like these types of films when they're done well. UN-fortunately, "Hidden Agenda" is not one of those films.
David McLean (Kevin Dillon) travels to Berlin, Germany, to meet his estranged brother, whom he hasn't seen in several years. Unfortunately when he arrives at the airport he's met by some folks from the American embassy, who sadly report to him that his brother was killed in an "auto accident" the night before. We the viewers know that it was no accident, as we saw his brother Michael get in a shoot out and then blown up in a car before the opening credits even rolled. As Dillon goes through his brother's possessions, it becomes clear to him that his bro was in the middle of some shady business. Eventually it becomes clear that his brother was working for the CIA and was in possession of a computer disc that could be embarrassing to people on both sides of the former Iron Curtain, and therefore a lot of bad guys want the disc. David and his new friend Monika (Andrea Roth) spend the rest of the movie running from one place to another, getting shot at and being chased by a variety of bad guys. For a movie with so much going on you'd expect it to be action packed but it's not. It's very slow and talky and even though the film is only about 100 minutes long it seems to run about twice that.
There's nothing wrong with any of the performances; Dillon and Roth make a good team and there's able support from such dependable character actors as the late J.T. Walsh as an American Embassy employee who may or may not be on Dillon's side and the great Christopher Plummer as a crusty old German detective. However, the pieces of "Hidden Agenda" never really come together.
This could've been a tight, compact thriller but "Hidden Agenda" rambles on way too long and in too many directions for its own good. Pass on this one.
David McLean (Kevin Dillon) travels to Berlin, Germany, to meet his estranged brother, whom he hasn't seen in several years. Unfortunately when he arrives at the airport he's met by some folks from the American embassy, who sadly report to him that his brother was killed in an "auto accident" the night before. We the viewers know that it was no accident, as we saw his brother Michael get in a shoot out and then blown up in a car before the opening credits even rolled. As Dillon goes through his brother's possessions, it becomes clear to him that his bro was in the middle of some shady business. Eventually it becomes clear that his brother was working for the CIA and was in possession of a computer disc that could be embarrassing to people on both sides of the former Iron Curtain, and therefore a lot of bad guys want the disc. David and his new friend Monika (Andrea Roth) spend the rest of the movie running from one place to another, getting shot at and being chased by a variety of bad guys. For a movie with so much going on you'd expect it to be action packed but it's not. It's very slow and talky and even though the film is only about 100 minutes long it seems to run about twice that.
There's nothing wrong with any of the performances; Dillon and Roth make a good team and there's able support from such dependable character actors as the late J.T. Walsh as an American Embassy employee who may or may not be on Dillon's side and the great Christopher Plummer as a crusty old German detective. However, the pieces of "Hidden Agenda" never really come together.
This could've been a tight, compact thriller but "Hidden Agenda" rambles on way too long and in too many directions for its own good. Pass on this one.