“The Secret Agent” is directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius, Bacurau) and stars Wagner Moura (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Narcos), Carlos Francisco (Bacurau, A Strange Path), Tânia Maria (Bacurau), Robério Diógenes (As Tentações do Irmão Sebastião, Onde Anda Você), Alice Carvalho (New Bandits, Love is a Knife), Gabriel Leone (Dom, Your Heart), Maria Fernanda Cândido (My Hindu Friend, The Traitor), Hermila Guedes (Second Call, New Bandits), Isabél Zuaa (Good Manners, Joaquim), and Udo Kier (Blade, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot). This film, which is set towards the end of Brazil’s military dictatorship, is about a technology expert who returns to his hometown seeking peace, only to realize it may not be the right place take refuge.

If you read my review for “No Other Choice,” you’d know that my experience with Korean cinema is fairly limited. But at least when it comes to that nation’s output of movies, I at least knew who Park Chan-wook was prior to checking out his latest flick. I have a similar situation with Brazilian cinema, only worse. While some of this film’s cast has achieved international fame, I could not honestly say I recognized their faces going in. I had no idea who the director, Kleber Mendonça Filho, was before watching this movie. The only reason why I checked out this film is because of all the praise it appeared to be getting ahead of awards season. I never watched a trailer. I never saw a commercial. In fact, I went to see the film at one of the two theaters in my area playing it at the time. Was it worth the trip? I’d say so. The film is not bad, but it is far from my favorite of the year.

“The Secret Agent” is a great watch, but not the easiest watch for a number of reasons. Although one can say the film is rewarding if you can sit through all of it. The movie draws itself out pretty heavily and several scenes go on for what can best be described as a snail’s pace. Films like “Blade Runner” prove that a story can move slowly and still keep you hooked, therefore making the pace come off as a positive. “The Secret Agent’s” pacing often had me checking the time, and it made me less invested in the supporting characters than I probably should have been. However, that is not to say I disliked any of them.

On the surface, “The Secret Agent” is a solid narrative. But it is one that is probably at its best at the beginning and the end. The middle is where the film’s slowest and least engaging points tend to come up. The film starts off with a great hook, introduces a neat concept, and lets us get to know some admirable characters. The end, while not larger than life, is pretty killer with very little filler. The middle is by no means a bad watch, but the film’s highlights for me happen before and after said point. People often talk about how some audiences these days have very short attention spans, and I wonder, fairly or unfairly, how this movie would sit with people who are watching at home for the first time, or looking at their phones. When people think of movies that are best experienced in a theater, people will often lean to adventure, fantasy, or sci-fi blockbusters. “The Secret Agent” is a bit more grounded, but like those more expensive and flashy pictures, I think this film crafts a unique cinematic experience of its own.

“The Secret Agent” oozes an atmosphere like no other. Again, this film is slow, but if anything, it allowed me to carefully take in just about each scene one at a time. This film is often quiet, but it only allows me to suck myself into its environments. The film starts off in the middle of a desert. With the drawn out editing and lack of music, part of me felt like I was stranded in the middle of that desert. Part of the atmosphere is also highlighted by the production design. This film is set in 1977, so it felt classy to see a bunch of old cars in every other frame.

The cinematography, perfectly executed by Evgenia Alexandrova, is also a standout. Granted, going back to the desert at the beginning, having decent locations definitely helps. But each frame allowed those locations to shine. There is also a really cool POV shot involving blood towards the end of the film that blew me away. Each frame also weirdly goes against the film’s vibe. Every second of the film involves our protagonist trying to seek safety. Yet at the same time, nearly all the film’s frames feel bright and colorful. I am not mad about it though. The film looks incredibly picturesque. Another weird technical choice if you had to ask me involves the film’s music. For the most part, I thought the film had decent music choices that matched every scene. Then in the climax, there is a song choice that is oddly happy sounding for a chase sequence where our protagonist could die at any point. To me, this almost rubbed me the wrong way. If I were in charge, I would have picked a different song. Then again, the “Challengers” score left me with a headache and people seem to love those tunes, so what do I know?

The standouts to this film do not just extend to the technological elements, but little things like dialogue also pack a punch. “The Secret Agent” may not be my favorite screenplay of the year, but it most definitely has one of my favorite lines. When Marcelo says “I’d kill him with a hammer,” I felt that. There are few, if any lines of dialogue from a film released this year, that sent a chill down my spine like that one.

Also, Wagner Moura is fantastic in this movie. Moura is fairly well known internationally through the series “Narcos,” which I have not watched. Although I had the tremendous pleasure of seeing him play an infinitely haunting antagonist, specifically Death in “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” I love him in that movie, but “The Secret Agent” will be remembered as the film that made know his name. I cannot wait to see what roles he takes on next. Though this is no way of suggesting the supporting cast did not do a good job themselves. The two biggest MVPs in the supporting cast for me are Elza (Tânia Maria), whose charm knows no bounds, and young Fernando (Enzo Nunes) whose adorableness leaps off the screen.

In the end, I know there is a bit of hype going around for “The Secret Agent,” but frankly, I had the same reaction coming out of this movie that I had for “Sinners” and “Weapons.” I know both of those movies have their fans, and they are undoubtedly well made. If you read my reviews for those movies, you would know that I like both of them. “The Secret Agent” is not an exception to the rule. But I am not chomping at the bit to get an immediate second viewing of “The Secret Agent.” I would watch the film a second time, considering how much I liked the characters and production elements from the first watch. But I have personally seen more appealing films this year. I can see “The Secret Agent” winning a lot of people over, to the point where it is their film of the year. For me, it is a good watch, and I will leave it at that for now. I may revisit it in the future. I may not. Only time will tell. I am going to give “The Secret Agent” a 7/10.

“The Secret Agent” is now playing in select theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for “Hamnet” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash!” Stay tuned! If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Secret Agent?” What did you think about it? Or, what is a film released this year that you like but also think is a tad overhyped? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!