Agentes Secretos

This moving film has suspense , tension , emotion , wild fighting images , mystery , car crashes and a little bit of violence . From his offices in Switzerland, Russian Igor Lipovsky (Avedikian) is an arms dealer engaged in a huge and profitable gunrunning operation with a special load whose destination results to be Angola . The French government wants to hinder the activities of Igor and sends an outfit to sink one of his ships heading for Africa with a shipping of illegal weaponry . Lisa (Monica Bellucci) , Brisseau (Vincent Cassell) , Loïc (Ludovic Schoendoerffer , brother's son) , Tony (Eric Savin) and Raymond (Sergio Peris Mencheta) are professional spies under command of Colonel Grasset (André Dussollier) to proceed the dark operation . But moles threaten to foil a team of secret agents' plan . The code-name of the assignment is "Janus" ; and just like with the ancient deity , as they have to pull off a dangerous mission to sink the general cargo vessel "Anita Hans" in Casablanca . After that , they are betrayed by other spies (Najwa Nimri) , then Lisa is detained and Brisseau attempts to free her , but the events go wrong .

This thrilling movie deals with an expert team of spies , but no in James Bond style , as they are secret agents that carry out their assignments in realist as well as methodical manners . Exciting as well as surprising screenplay by Jean Cosmos , Ludovic Schoendoerffer and the same filmmaker Frederic Schoendoerffer . Although the picture has various ingredients for entertainment , the plot is some confused and complex and filled with plot twists . This enjoyable picture contains action , thrills , intrigue , car pursuits , struggles , including a violent fight between Vincent Cassell and his nemesis Najwa Nimri . The first part of the movie takes inspiration of the Rainbow Warrior case that has been slightly adapted ; events are transposed in Casablanca and the sabotaged boat carries weapons instead of environmental militants . Very good duo protagonist , Vincent Cassell , an actor with endless energy , but Vincent is also a family man with 2 children and married to Monica Bellucci, his Italian co-star . For professional reasons, Vincent lives mostly in Paris while his Italian-born wife, Monica Bellucci, lives mostly in London . However , they have been separated in 2013 . Despite this , they have appeared in the following films together : Sheitan (2006), Secret agents (2004), Irreversible (2002), Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), Mediterranees (1999), Le Plaisir (1998), Compromis (1998), Dobermann (1997), Come Mi Vuoi (1997) and Flash-back (1996). The star studded support cast is important with known international actors , most of them French people such as André Dussollier as Colonel Grasset , Charles Berling as Eugène , Bruno Todeschini , Eric Savin as Tony , Gabrielle Lazure as Véronique Lipovsky as well as good Spanish actors such as Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Raymond , Najwa Nimri as Maria Menendez and Simon Andreu as lawyer .

Sensitive as well as touching musical score by Bruno Coulais . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Jean Pierre Sauvaire . The motion picture produced by Spanish producers : Ricardo Garcia/Francisco Ramos/Miguel Menendez and French ones : Eric Neve/Porchet/Latif Lahlou was well directed by Frédéric Schoendoerffer , son of also filmmaker Pierre Schoendoerffer , an expert on war movies . He was born in 1962 in France, he is a director and assistant director, known for Switch (2011) , Trunds (2007) , Scènes de crimes (2000) and especially this Secret agents (2004) . Rating : 6,5/10 . Well worth watching .

I watched this film entirely in French without subtitles with some french speaking friends, as someone with reasonable French skills and still learning, i paid more attention to it than i would with an American film. I understood what was happening. From the start it had the potential to be a good film. Good locations, reasonable camera work, a good cast and some believable action sequences. A proportion of the film was located in Geneva, where i am staying at the moment, which i recognised, so effort was taken to be on location, unlike some films which are filmed in Prague and then set in Paris, Zurich or other European cities. I liked much of the story, the way that the characters interacted with each other and how the plot developed. Nevertheless, i found it disappointing and thought that more effort could have been made to develop the plot and perhaps develop the characters better. The actual action scenes were more brief than i had expected, which was another disappointment, but they were more believable that many in this specific genre. Having watched a number of French and other European films, i believe that they do have an edge over what Hollywood is producing. This film i think would not, i am sad to say. Not i think worth buying. If you rent it on DVD, then rent something else as well at the same time. That would be my advice.

Again a french blockbuster! I had in mind "Largo Winch" for our national action / thriller tries and the feeling that something was lacking in comparison to James Bond, "Mission Impossible" or the recent "Traitor".

My opinion hasn't changed: action isn't unforgettable, the story is boring, and the characters dull: even before the troubles come, the spies are depressive, mournful!

I know the director wanted to show the crude reality of undercover action but he failed to tell something interesting. Even his commentary is lethargic. It's a pity because some sequences show that he is talented with a camera!

The best moment of the movie is their "vacations" in Casablanca, because it was almost like mine in Oujda, another Moroccan town: streets filled with people, red and whites taxis, pool, …

And another french DVD without subtitles!

I've expected to have a different look from the French film industry to a spy trivia rather than imitating the American flavor. Whatever you do, imitation is an imitation and you can't get rid of that.

Although the scenario has some potential, it seems they've missed the point and got bored in the story telling. Monica Bellucci is a really beautiful and talented actress whom I admire, but she got lost in the movie with the same dull look and it seems she didn't like her role too... The best casting is Vincent Cassel and he's probably the only one who took it seriously. The chief staff of the secret missions are too light to be described as bosses. The action scenes are rare and not so devastating. The camera use is fine though.

If you have some spare time, you may enjoy the film, but don't expect too much of it. 6 out of 10.

Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel team up again after "Irreversible" in this decent movie that I recommend due to its simplicity and gripping storyline. Despite some definite defects (Bellucci's acting firstly), it shows a couple well working together and having a strong chemistry; a lot of intrigues, cover ups, action scenes. Shot in Casablanca, Geneva and Southern France (I guess) it can be seen as a motion picture that rarely loses its grip, well scripted and acted. The only objections I can find are Monica's Bellucci's role and the shortage of something that might have avoided the film to fall into the ordinary spy genre, like a stage trick revealing something new.