Agency (1981)

Very well executed

Simply Perfect

Excellent but underrated film

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

A few years ago, this film could often be found in the retail store's $2 bin, but the movie turns out to be somewhat less dazzling than you would expect, despite the welcome presence of Robert Mitchum and a potentially exciting setting.In fact, "Agency" actually emerges as a rather disappointing thriller. True, the action spots are excitingly handled, but director George Kaczender is a total loss in the movie's many lifelessly extended dialogue spots. Glum acting from the expressionless hero, Lee Majors, and his buddy, Saul Rubinek who is inclined to mumble, doesn't help. Fortunately, what Rubinek has to say does not seem to really matter. Far more disappointing is the fact that Alexandra Stewart is wasted in a minor role. On the other hand, George Touliatos does come across effectively as a down-to-earth police sergeant. (The movie was formerly available on a very good Westlake DVD).

The cast play this movie as a camp comedy....the main plot line that a crooked would be secret government are using subliminal messages in TV ads to sway elections could make for a fine straight political thriller. Agency isn't played as a gripping thriller but it comes across that the cast were having a ball...especially Bob Mitchum as comic book baddie. Lee Majors is okay as 'the hero'. He has his comic moments as he escapes from Mitchum's goofy henchmen...villains straight out of Batman!Saul Rubinek almost steals the film from under Majors and Mitchum's noses...but his witty cat loving character, Goldstein just isn't in the thing long enough. Valerie Perrine as Lee Majors' love interest is pretty much a throw away part. Meanwhile, Alexandra Stewart just exudes a cool Teutonic type beauty...it's noticeable that her character is seen getting on a private jet with the man who was obviously Mitchum's boss/paymaster...as if she was planted at the ad agency to keep an eye on Mitchum. It also left a way open for a sequel! The quality of the print for my DVD was just awful...it seems that no decent print survives and though some might say "Good!!" I think it's a shame because this cheesy and cheap Canadian flick is not so bad as long as you don't expect a stellar movie...this was obviously not a film to boost any actor's reputation, merely to pay the rent check, played with tongue firmly in cheek...

*****Major Spoilers**** Don't Read If You Did Not See Movie.... Timely movie,especially now when political campaigning never seems to end even after the elections, about the takeover of a large advertising agency, Porter & Stripe, and it's being used to further the agenda of a shadowy and unelected group of power brokers to shape America and the world into what they feel that it should be. Unknown to the advertising world but with an unlimited amount on money Ted Quinn, Robert Mitchum, buys out the giant Porter & Stripe advertising agency. Quinn soon begins producing and peddling commercials on everything from deodorants drain cleaners and soap products to powered chocolate milk for children. It turns out that the real reason for Quinn's takeover of the agency is not to sell household goods but to sell politicians and even more sinister political ideas to an unsuspecting public.Quinn slowly starts getting rid of the people working at the agency and begins replacing them with undercover political operatives. One of the people working for the agency as a commercial writer Sam Goldstein, Saul Rubinek, gets wind of what Quinn's plans really are which leads to his death. Sam's friend Philip Morgan, Lee Majors, who at first seemed to be ignorant of what was happening and thinking that Sam was a bid paranoid in his behavior changed his opinion after Sam's death when he comes across a audio tape that Sam recorded just minutes before he died. Marked to be eliminated because he knows too much Morgan is on the run from Quinn's goons throughout the rest of the movie. Even though dated "Agency" still packs a punch about media manipulation via outside sources and is as good as the many movies made about the same subject since then, 1980. "Agency" is not a top flight Hollywood production with very bad lighting and occasional muffles and drops in the soundtrack but the film still grabs your attention and keeps you interested until the final scene. Robert Mitchum gives his usual good and workman like performance as Ted Quinn like he did in the many films that he made in the last years of his acting career. Mitchum also gives the movie class and respectability just by being in it. Lee Majors is surprisingly good with a much more in-depth acting role then what you usually saw him in on TV and in films back then. Vallerie Perrine is more then adequate as Lee Majors' love interest in the film as well as the damsel in distress. Yet by far the biggest surprise in the movie was Saul Rubinek as Sam Goldstein. Sam who when you first saw him you would think that he's only in the film for comic relief instead became the most pivotal character in the movie. What I liked most about Rubinek's performance is that the more he got closer to the truth the more his paranoia subsided. As Sam seemed to resigned himself to the fate that was in store for him. Which made Sam both believable and tragic at the same time and which is just the opposite of what you would expect from a part like his in a movie filled with surprises and paranoia like "Agency" to be like.

"Agency" is one of those films that's equal parts cheese, espionage, and paranoia-truly something that could only be a product of the 70's. It's not exactly earth-shattering but a must-see in my book. The "revealing point" is so funny/messed-up...well, just one hint. Wait for them to play the "Chocolate Planet" tape and you'll see for yourself. But I'm warning you...you might die laughing. *PHNERK!* -No Nukes, The Satanic Pikachu