Cortina di ferro

Watched this film in mid April on CTV. What an interesting, yet disturbing story of the CIA railroading of a Canadian Ambassador to USSR.

Christopher Plummer is awesome as the Canadian diplomat who's chosen to take a fall and possibly implicate Prime Minister Pearson by the CIA during the middle of the cold war.

Alhtough hammed up for TV, it's incredibly unsettling to know that this kind of McCarthyism was very real. Makes one wonder how much truth is being reported today?

A great made for TV movie. Even a nice twist at the end. Based on a the book by Ian Adams which in turn is based on a true story. I give it an 8/10

"Agent of Influence" from 2002 is the disturbing true story of the CIA's framing of the Canadian Ambassador to the USSR (Christopher Plummer) by exposing him as a Russian agent. In so doing, they want to force him to implicate the Prime Minister at the time, Pearson. It stars Christopher Plummer, Marina Orsini, Ted Whittall, and Shaun Johnson.

With the exception of Plummer, the acting ranged from good to so-so - Marina Orsini, I think in an attempt to sound American, did her more subtle scenes the best. Plummer as usual was amazing as a man in failing health coming up against the ruination of his career at the hands of the CIA. The incident took place in 1964; the real story was finally revealed in 1980.

The older I get, the more disgusted I get by our government's antics. Sad statement.

In 1964 during the height of the Cold War, the Canadian Ambassador to Moscow, John Watkins (Christopher Plummer) is accused by the CIA and given some heavy interrogation for being a double agent for the KGB and use dirty tactics such as trying to out him as a homosexual.

Some dreadful performances and direction mar this what could have been an interesting film based on the real life events that occurred to Canadian Ambassador John Watkins. Director Michel Poulette clearly does not handle the material well with only Plummer handling his role with any dignity.

Overall this is a good film because, and almost only because, Christopher Plummer puts in a good performance when he could have sent them a mail in performance in this made for TV film. The story and writing certainly helps also as it is brow raising along with the Plummer performance. It is kept from being extremely good because the performance by the rest of the cast and the Directing aren't up to par with the writing & the Plummer performance.

Engrossing and frightening expose of the unprincipled tactics of the CIA, in dealing with the RCMP to hunt down possible double agents among Canadian diplomats in Lester Pearson's circle. The true story of John Watkin's tragic death finally surfaces - how a good man is sacrificed by "commie hunters". Herbert Norman and Watkins were hounded by the CIA during the cold war, and even their friend Prime Minister Lester Pearson couldn't save them.

How timely for CTV to air this when Canada has the courage not to back the U.S. unilateral invasion of Iraq. This TV movie explains better than any lecture the roots of the tensions between the US and Canada in international affairs.

Terrific performance by Christopher Plummer as Watkins, a sophisticated homosexual whose deep sense of decency is finally recognized by the RCMP officer interrogating him. Effective direction by Michel Poulette.