The Secret Agent

Beautifully filmed, but I’m not sure I understand enough about Brazilian history to get this. Wagner Moura, a solid, engaging leading man, plays three roles across three generations: father, son, and grandson. The cinematographic razzle-dazzle involves using old Panavision anamorphic lenses to achieve a richly nostalgic 1970s feel. That with the groovy hair and the funny shirts make this look like it’s a brand new movie from the 70s. Tracking the revolutionaries, corrupt cops, and an entangled cluster of pseudonyms gets confusing — especially with subtitles — and the running time compounds that, making my eyes glaze over. So it’s a demanding view. It’s an Oscar nominee, so I watched it to keep up. But I think I missed the boat.