Cinema and Popcorn

Genre: Drama; Comedy; Thriller; Crime Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho Writer: Kleber Mendonça Filho Starring: Wagner Moura, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Isabél Zuaa, Udo Kier and Tânia Maria I was fortunate for having Kleber Mendonça Filho presenting the film himself in my session, because he recalled some aspects of the movie he wanted the audience to be aware of: this movie represents an act of resistance and an ode to the importance of the press and cultural spaces (like a theatre) as powerful weapons against authoritarian regimes. So, The Secret Agent is actually some kind of parable about acts of resistance in the form of a political thriller - it's a slow burning film that is smartly balanced with truly funny comedic scenes and some moments of pure human joy that show the movie's true heart beneath its disguise - it's more of a satire to a corrupt system than a manhunt film. It's some kind of cinematic marvel in its own right. The story ...

BEST PICTURE BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Leonardo DiCaprio  is a true movie star and the enthusiastic reception of Paul Thomas Anderson is earning him a ton of rave reviews while the movie seems to be a pretty solid contender in virtually every category at the Oscars.  Timothée Chalamet seems to have landed the a charismatic movie star role in MARTY SUPREME while  Danial Day-Lewis  is acting (and Oscar royalty) and he looks marvelous in ANEMONE trailer.  Jeremy Allen White is fresh from THE BEAR TV series glory and his performance as Bruce Springsteen has already earned him raves (and the AMPAS can't resist a musician's biopic). Last spot goes to Wagner Moura who carries THE SECRET AGENT/O AGENTE SECRETO like the movie star he proves to be - it's a great performance in a great film that will (almost for sure) represent Brazil for Best International Film and with a huge potential to pop in Best Original Screenplay, Director and maybe Picture if Neon decides t...