Secret Agents (2004)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Very well made, intense, but probably not for the average American stupid pang bang movie lover. I would love to see this movie again, and not just for Monica. The story is original, and portrays very well the real complicated side of doing illegal business, which again is not always James bond 007. All characters are in a state of depression, which thinking about it, appears quite natural. As so often with french movies you need to live yourself into the characters, and not just watch. Of course it has some minor defects, such as a car crash, which no human would ever survive, but these are only details. Probably this movie will have a later US remake.

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.

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.

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.