This isn't really a thriller; it’s better approached as an artistic exploration of how political corruption can dismantle everything in its wake with overwhelming power. The acting is superb and feels authentic, and there was clearly considerable work put into recreating the feel of the 1970s. I do think the writing could have used some refinement.

If you're anticipating something akin to “U.N.C.L.E.” from Ian Fleming, prepare for letdown; this is an entirely different kind of production. It centers around three characters, all played by Wagner Moura, as they work their way through a series of political machinations set in 1970s Brazil. "Marcelo," also known as “Armando,” arrives in his hometown of Recife under mysterious circumstances and is protected by the m…

The visuals are really striking; Brazil is just an appealing setting. There’s something about that era that makes me wish I could relocate there—though, ideally, as someone with privilege who wouldn't have to face the difficulties shown onscreen. It would be amusing to see a sequel to *The Secret Agent*, and I could certainly imagine myself in the lead role. I suppose I’d need to bend down when using a public phon…

The essential ingredient for a gripping political thriller is a consistently captivating sense of suspense, but that's exactly what's absent from this lengthy and frustratingly complex story unfolding in 1977 Brazil during the final years of its military rule. The narrative centers on Armando (Wagner Moura), a former academic who becomes the target of manipulation and false accusations by a powerful, dishonest busine…