Secret Agent is based on a novel by Joseph Conrad, who based his work on the activities of the anarchist groups at work in Britain in the 1900s. Bob Hoskins plays the surly Verloc, a shopkeeper who acts as a spy for the Russians -- not that he believes in the goals of his employers: he needs money. This is also his motivation for acting as a double agent, informing on the Russians. Verloc's life is a small thing, with none of his actions amounting to much, just like the rest of his life. He has a wife, Winnie (Patricia Arquette), by arrangement, and though his feelings for her have grown strong, they are more obsessive than loving -- their marriage is brutal and draining. Complicating the situation is the presence of Winnie's mentally handicapped brother, Stevie (Christian Bale), a big, sweet-natured man who loves both his sister and Verloc, with the latter perplexed at Stevie's adoration. The true barometer of the anarchist's intentions, though, is the Professor, chillingly rendered by Robin Williams. It is the Professor whom the audience first sees in the film, moving in slow motion through crowded London streets, his face a mask of contempt, his movements having the arrogance of a dangerous man. It is the Professor is seen last, once again moving through the crowded streets, detonation plunger in hand, beginning to smile. It is also the Professor who enunciates the anarchist credo at the film's heart; where Verloc gives lip service with hand held out, the Professor truly believes, and money is only a factor in acquiring the materials to carry out his agenda. Where Verloc inspires only contempt from Inspector Heat of the London Constabulary (Jim Broadbent), the Professor inspires genuine terror. Heat pursues Verloc, who cringes and scurries, with determination, yet he backs away from the Professor, who smiles and stands his ground. Gérard Depardieu essays Ossipon, who typifies another kind of anarchist -- the glamorous, attractive kind whose goals seem more to be about women and notoriety than political change. Verloc's situation takes a turn for the worse when one set of his employers assigns him the task of bombing the Greenwich Observatory. Unable to get out of the mission, Verloc comes up with a hare-brained scheme involving Stevie. With all the forces against him now closing in, Verloc has become desperate, and that desperation results in tragedy when a stumble causes Stevie to fall onto the device. Verloc's unsteady life unravels quickly after the incident. Secret Agent is an excellent, if depressing, film. Christopher Hampton's script is a beautifully written adaptation of Conrad's novel, serving to capture Verloc's meaningless life, the ludicrousness of the political contrivances, and the ultimate tragedy for Winnie Verloc and her brother. Hampton also directed, doing a fine job of setting the grey, wet tone of the assorted conspiracies while playing out Stevie's tragedy in bright daylight. This adaptation of Secret Agent is certainly not for everyone -- some will find it too depressing by far, thanks to a combination of a good script, good direction, and an excellent cast.