Pop Culture Happy Hour Great Movies We Missed
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Dec 16, 2025 Film critic Bob Mondello shares his thoughts on underrated gems of 2025. He dives into the moody world of "The Secret Agent," highlighting its nuanced performances and political undertones. Mondello offers an overview of "Come See Me in the Good Light," a heartfelt documentary about Andrea Gibson's journey with cancer, blending humor with raw emotion. The discussion also features the poignant Marathi love story "Cactus Pears," and the daring, feminist tale "100 Nights of Hero," celebrated for its unique storytelling and striking visuals.
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Festival And Threat As One Tone
- Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent blends Carnival festivity with political repression to create powerful tonal dissonance.
- The film uses ensemble characters and time jumps to reveal how propaganda distracts and corrupts everyday life.
Dona Sebastiana Steals Scenes
- Linda highlights Dona Sebastiana, an older refugee-sheltering character, as a standout small-role performance.
- She praises Wagner Moura's warmth and the film's cinematography for grounding its strange moments.
Surreal Bits Mirror Propaganda
- The Secret Agent intentionally inserts surreal interludes to mirror state propaganda's absurd power.
- Those fantasy breaks reveal how distraction becomes political control, not persuasion.