Category Archives: MI5

2022, Acceptable for teenagers, Based on true facts, Brainwashing, Career Criminal, Conman, Courtroom scenes, DO NOT MISS, FBI, Fraud, Impersonation, Kidnapping, Lawyers, MI5, Netflix Streaming, Personal Betrayal, Prison, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Trial Scenes

Rogue Agent (2022)

From IMDB:

The extraordinary and chilling story of career conman Robert Freegard who masqueraded as an MI5 agent and fooled people into going into hiding, and the woman who fell for him, and then brought him down.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 55 minute complete film based on the true story of Robert Freegard starring James Norton as the conman.

George Santos (Republican 2022 representative from New York) has nothing on Robert Freegard, alias Robert Hanson.  There is, as far as I can tell, a big difference.  Santos, I would guess, is probably completely delusional and may even believe his lies. Robert Freegard, on the other hand, was a clever, willful, devious, lying bastard from the start whose lies hurt many people.

If you are following the acting career of James Norton, then begin with his portrayal of the truly malicious Tommy Lee Royce in “Happy Valley”. Follow that with his role as the imperfectly saintly Rev. Sidney Chambers in “Grantchester”.  End here with his pitch-perfect personification of Robert Freegard.

Granted that James Norton is the center of the movie, but Gemma Arterton deserves credit as the deceived and then grimly determined woman who hunted Freegard down.

Do not miss the ending explanation of what happened to Robert Freegard.

DO NOT MISS!

2011, Acceptable for teenagers, British Slapstick, Comedy, Conspiracy, Eccentric Detective, Lot's of Fun, MI5, Netflix Streaming

Johnny English Reborn (2011)

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From IMDB:

Johnny English goes up against international assassins hunting down Chinese Premier Xiang Ping.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 41 minute British slapstick film.

If you enjoy British slapstick or have ever seen a Johnny English film and have not yet seen the Reborn version then you are in for a treat. Granted that slapstick is not everyone’s cup of tea, but yours truly howled with laughter throughout the film.

In good slapstick timing is everything. In many instances you can see what is coming which sometimes adds to the humor (or should I say “humour”).  Cast of characters include:

  • Mister Bean or should I say Rowan Atkinson as Johnny.
  • Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame) as Pamela.
  • Dominic West as the perfidious Simon Ambrose. Mr. West has an impressively long resumé.
  • Pik Sen Lim (Who?  In fact she played in “Doctor Who”) as the cleaning lady assassin or Killer Cleaner.  Her resumé is also immense. You probably have seen her in one of her many roles even though just as probably no one knows her name.
  • Queen Elizabeth.

Even though I may have seen it somewhere in the dim past (is 2011 really that long ago?),  the second viewing was just as much fun.

2015, Abduction, AIDS, Alcoholism, British, Clever Plot, Complicated, Conspiracy, Creepy, Dark, Drama, Drugs, Emotional child abuse, Explicit sex, Gay theme, Harmful Medicine, Improbable details, Made For TV, Mathematician, MI5, Mother-son relations, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Suspense, Wonderful acting

London Spy (2015)

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From IMDB:

A chance romance between two men from very different worlds, one from the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, the other from a world of clubbing and youthful excess, leads into mystery after one of them is found murdered.

From Netflix you can stream this 5-episode one-season series. Indeed Wikipedia confirms that there are only 5 episodes. Why would I doubt this? Read on to find the answer.

Give this series a 10 for originality, sinister plot, and great actors. But WARNING: Do not expect to live happily ever after.

In the novel “1984” Big Brother is always watching. Here also, the character Danny (played by Ben Whishaw) is up against an unbeatable conspiracy which only seems to be more malignant with each attempt by Danny to fight back.

Danny, a young promiscuous gay man, meets Alex (played by Edward Holcroft) a seemingly repressed and virginal gay man. After the two become lovers (there is one scene of the two men making love) and genuinely fall in love,  Alex disappears. Danny spends the rest of the series exploring this disappearance.

Along the way Danny teams up with a remarkable set of well-known actors:

  • Jim Broadbent (if you have ever watched British entertainment, you will recognize this famous and seasoned actor) pays Scottie, Danny’s aging gay mentor and friend.
  • David Hayman (again an instantly recognizable British actor) plays as one of the conspirator’s servants Mr. Turner.
  • Charlotte Rampling (need I say more?) is one of Alex’s mothers. How’s that for intriguing?

As swept up as I was (i.e.  “binge watching”), I have to qualify:

The Good:

  • Acting is as superb as it is really, really slow. This story is a monument to sad, mournful pondering. But Ben Whishaw can just stand still and emote. No action required.
  • As a mystery story, it just sinks deeper and deeper.

The Bad:

  • Story speed is really, really slow.
  • Too many times the details seem to be too improbable. Can any conspiracy be that all-powerful and airtight?
  • One of the plot twists prompted my response “Give me a break!”
  • Do not expect to live happily ever after, but rather hopefully ever after.

Clearly, this film will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It just worked for me despite any plot disappointments.

 

 

2013, British, Corruption, Cynical, Lawyers, Love Story, MI5, Nothing special, Suspense, Terrorist Attack

Closed Circuit (2013)

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From Netflix:

Martin and Claudia, top-flight lawyers who happen to be former lovers, become targets when they’re teamed up to defend a notorious terrorist. As the trial unfolds, the danger causes the pair to reevaluate their allegiance to justice.

If the plot confuses you in any way, you can read the Wikipedia summary. Nothing special distinguishes this story from other cloak and dagger films. MI5 is painted as a ruthless organization not above murdering their agents in order to cover up MI5 mistakes. But then clandestine government organizations are never suspect, are they? (Parlez-vous CIA?)

Eric Bana as Martin Rose and Rebecca Hall as Claudia Simmons-Howe play well as a team. Other notable appearances are from Ciarán Hinds as Devlin and Jim Broadbent as Attorney General.

Try the British TV series “MI5” instead.