Description

Bob (Bruce Jones) lives with his wife Anne (Julie Brown) and his daughter Coleen (Gemma Phoenix) in a poor English town. Bob scrapes by with whatever odd jobs come his way — working as a bouncer, stealing green turf, cleaning septic tanks. Although Bob has no money and is living on the dole, he is determined to buy his daughter a dress for her first communion. The local parish priest (Tom Hickey) suggests that Bob settle cheaper and get a second-hand dress for Coleen's communion. But Bob will have none of that. Bob wants a new dress for his daughter, and no matter what it takes he will get a dress for her. Unfortunately, Bob has only murky ideas about how to earn the money to buy it. — Paul Brenner ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hard edged and realistic
I'm biased. Two of my friends are in this film (Patrick and Anthony Warde) and a couple of scenes were set in their club.

That said, the film is realistic and set in real locations. Loach didn't have to build sets or work hard to convey the hopelessness of unemployment in a Northern town, the people and places did that for him. His talent is in bringing this to the screen and still giving the people the dignity they deserve as they struggle to make some kind of life in a post-industrial wasteland.

a film about dignity and respect
I try not to miss a Ken Loach film. Unless I'm ignorant about films, I find few directors nowadays tackling the issues of working class life in our modern capitalist society. When I saw this not entirely unbiased (not necessarily a bad thing) film I felt it was about dignity and respect. In his struggle to provide his daughter with the proper attire for a communion, the worker-father turns it into a matter of principle although linked to survival. At least that's what I got out of it. Check out films by Mike Leigh, John Sayles, Michael Winterbottom. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Brilliant : a knock out film!
Since Frances Normand's boyfriend is murdered by british forces in North Ireland , she decides to investigate this weird murder , she plays the role of an American human rights activist .
A punch in the middle of the face , because it concerns about a conspiracy , cover up and ambush policial, inspired by similar events in 1980 .
Filmed in documental mood for Ken Loach. Briiliant performances of Frances Mc Dormand and Brian Cox.
One of my favorites political thrillers of the nineties.

INTERESTING THRILLER ABOUT POLITIC AND BETRAYALS.
*** ½ stars rating for this film. "Hidden Agenda" is a study about the corruption and betrayal that appear in the high spheres of the governments policy. "Hidden Agenda" is set in Ireland, but this kind of corruption could be found everywhere around the world, not only in these modern times, but since the beginning of the human society the corruption has been here as well, so the story that is told in this movie could have happened in every random country.

"Hidden Agenda" has a good cast, among them Brian Cox, Frances McDormand and Brad Dourif, and the movie also has a solid direction by Ken Loach. Without a doubt, "Hidden Agenda" is a good movie that will keep the audiences interested in the plot from beginning to end.

an agenda not so occult
This movie is excellent, but one thinks after having seen it that humanity not only has physical or mental limits but ethical ones also, and that is preferable not to rub them.
When I was a child I heard for first time to speak about the OAS, the armed secret organization that wanted to eliminate De Gaulle. Franco protected the OAS discreetly at the time in Spain for being related to the extreme right wing. The film "Day of the Jackal" shows these days.
Before that, my parents knew the "Maquis": the attempt of invading Spain at the finish of II World War across the difficult valley of Aran in the Pyrenees. These experienced "Red" guerrillas hardened in two wars and with allied armament thought that the allies would help, but it was not like that and they were exterminated by the Spanish army in a obscure but expeditious form. The last episode was that of the GAL, a parapolicial group which was created in the decade of the 80's to finish with ETA's terrorism, the separatist Basque organization. His methods were coarse and they performed brutally open confrontations sometimes even in the streets of France so the scandal was too big and Spanish government had to stop these crude actions. France protected for a long time ETA, going on to Spain an invoice for the episode of the OAS. Well, in this movie is shown an equally dark episode on the performance of forces against the IRA. I think "hidden agendas" are owned by parts, but not all the members of the different governments excepting when there are a dictatorship.

Disturbing, Accurate Depiction of British Rule in N.Ireland
This movie, like "In the Name of the Father" and others, will leave you appalled and depressed about the ruthlessness and deceit of the British rule in Northern Ireland (just as in the Republic of Ireland, before its independence). Frances McDormand is, as usual, excellent in the role of a representative of an international group concerned about civil rights violations throughout the world and, in this particular case, Northern Ireland. The scenes dealing with the IRA (back rooms, Republican clubs, etc) and the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary, i.e., the British police force) are gritty, sinister, and very convincing. Brian Cox, in a performance to match McDormand's, plays an honest investigator sent over to determine the truth of the killing of an American member of the civil rights organization and the progress of his inquiry and the roadblocks he encounters which finally defeat him and destroy his integrity are depicted with chilling accuracy. This is a gripping and, ultimately (sad to say),demoralizing film about the "Troubles" which still plague Northern Ireland.

Should you trust any government?
Charles deGaulle once observed, "The State is a cold-blooded animal. Often even to it's own people. It must be so in order to survive." This movie is about British agents operating in Ireland to quash any IRA resistance to British rule, by any means necessary and any means possible. To give some semblance of respectability to the investigation of the murder of a U.S. citizen who was in the company of an IRA agent when he was assassinated the British secret police employ a fairmined and respected investigator who really believes he is charged with the responsibility of finding the truth. The closer he gets to the truth the more pressure the secret police put on him to back away. First they use blackmail, then threats to his own life. He is forced at last to betray everyone he has made promises to and return to England without a shread of respectibility. The secret police continue business as usual and set about arresting everyone whose confidence he has gained.
This is a film noir that takes a back seat to none. Be prepared to be angry, depressed and paranoid at the end. Not for the weak in spirit. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Elpidia Carrillo shines in Bread and Roses.
Bread and Roses shows us the world of the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles who clean buildings for sub-standard wages and no benefits. Life is a daily stuggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. These poor people live in fear that they will be fired without cause and turned into beggars. Often enough their worst fears are realized. They watch helplessly as their friends are demeaned, mistreated, and thrown out on the street.

A union organizer,Sam, capably played by Adrien Brody, tries to organize these frightened and abused people. He meets Maya, Pilar Padilla, who works as a janitor in an office building thanks to help she received from her sister Rosa, wonderfully played by Elpidia Carrillo. Maya has recently been smuggled into Los Angeles by "coyotes," men who take advantage of poor Mexicans who want a chance at the good life in America. She still has her hopes and idealism intact and argues with her sister to help Sam deliver his message to all the janitors at the building where they work.

Rosa has lost her idealism and much of her hope years ago. She stuggles to pay her bills, support a sick husband, and maintain her health and sanity, both of which she is in danger of losing. In the most moving scene of this film, or any other the viewer is likely to see anytime soon, Rosa explains to Maya how she has had to degrade herself to live and support her family. She is a good person who has prostituted herself to survive. Her description of the years she has submitted to the beastial behavior of the animals who prey on the weak and powerless women who want nothing more than bread to eat and a roof over their head will not soon be forgotten by any sensitive viewer.

For Sam and the union, bread is a start, but they also want roses for the people who clean up after us day after day. The message of this film is a compelling one. Director Ken Loach always keeps his eyes on this main theme -- justice for the underpriviledged in our society. He shows us the humanity of the real people who struggle each day to make a living, often without losing their dignity and sense of humor.

The entire cast turns in solid performances, but it is Elpidia Carrillo who shines above the rest. She deserved an Academy Award nomination for her startling performance. Her work in Bread and Roses is reason enough for me to recommend this film.

Si se puede!
This film is a must-see for anyone with an interest in how life can be lived in the United States in this new era of globalization. I am a sociologist with a professional interest in undocumented Mexican immigrants who was also a long-time resident of Los Angeles during the period, 1999-2000, in which the events of this film take place. Accordingly, I am well familiar with the Justice for Janitors campaign with its powerful slogan, Si se puede! Maya, the heroine of the film, is young, beautiful, and determined, if not unscrupulous. At the film's beginning, we see her entering the United States from Mexico in a group guided by two coyotes. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, she is expecting her sister Rosa to have the money to pay for her clandestine passage. However, her sister, because her husband is very sick with diabetes, does not have the money to pay the coyotes. The two toss a coin to decide which of them will spend the night with her so that she can repay her financial debt in kind. The winner takes her to his apartment. While taking a shower, he anticipates her seduction. However, she robs him of all his money, steals his fancy cowboy boots and escapes. She obtains a job as a janitor in the large downtown office building where her sister also works. Because she is undocumented she has to pay her supervisor, Freddie Perez, her first month's salary, divisible in two parts during her first two months of work. Unknown to Maya at the time, her sister only got the job for Maya after Rosa had agreed to sleep with Perez. Working in the office building, Maya soon meets the two men who provide the romantic action for the film: Sam Schapiro, the young and intellectual union organizer, and Ruben, a fellow Mexican immigrant janitor, who has hopes of attending the University of Southern California on a scholarship. The contrast between Maya's status and that of Sam is extreme. In one of the most poignant moments of the film, Maya asks Sam, "What do you have to lose?" The bitter-sweet ending left me in tears.

The next DeNiro
I just finished watching the movie, and Brody has such an incredibly subtle, yet powerful performance, I rank him as the of the next greatest actors of his generation. The supporting cast comprised of actors with little or no name attached to them are incredible and memorable. George Lopez delivers an outstanding performance. For those who are only familiar with his comedy, this film sheds a new light on a very talented man. The acting and writing are outstanding, to a point that you really forget that you are not watching just another day in the life of these characters.

MOSTLY HARMLESS
A fairly decent attempt at portraying the struggles of hispanic immigrants in America. A little heavy handed at times - Rosa's big speech to Maya explaining why she does the things she does - the forman's two dimensional character - and of course, the really, really sick husband. Things are bad for illegal immigrants and this movie goes out of its way to make things even worse for its characters by compounding multiple problems just to make sure the viewer understands what hardships these people endure. I didn't feel enlightened at movie's end because I think you'd have to live in a box not to have some idea that things are tough for them. I thought Brody's performance was good - he has a particular knack for delivering realistic dialog (see The Pianist for confirmation of his skill). Overall, not a bad movie, but not brilliant nor shocking.

IT'S A GEM!!!!!
It is such a treat to see a film that tells a story so beautifully. I laughed, I cried and loved every moment of this emotional rollercoaster ride.

I was also glad to watch a true FILM, about REAL people.
The other pleasure was to watch strong women characters in a film which were perfectly portrayed by the Latina actresses.

This has been added to my list of favorite films. ... Read more

Description

Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) stars as George, a Glasgow bus driver who risks his job by giving a free ride to a beautiful Nicaraguan woman with no money. From the moment that he sees her, George becomes infatuated.Interactive Menus, Production Credits, Filmographies & Awards, Trailer, Widescreen Presentation, Languages: English & Spanish, Subtitile Control ... Read more

Description

As big business takes hold of the rail industry, the gang at the localdepot is forced to adapt to new rules and wrestle with middle management's double-talk.As the new Managing Director wipes the slate clean, reliable workers are sent to pasture,and bonds of friendship are pulled apart as they confront difficult life choices…some ofthem life or death. ... Read more