The Agent (2009)

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feature film | comedy drama | 2009 | 80 mins | Cert: 12 (DVD)

starring William Beck, Stephen Kennedy and Maureen Lipman

cinematography Jonathan Harvey | production designer Humphrey Jaeger | music Simon Lambros
writer Martin Wagner | producers Martin Wagner and Lesley Manning | director Lesley Manning

It’s all in a day’s work for high-flying literary agent Alexander; manuscripts to read, deals to be done, celebrity clients to be taken out to lunch… but first there is an author to deal with whose latest book the agent thinks is, frankly, not up to scratch. However he hadn't counted on the author's resourcefulness...

This bitingly funny film takes you behind the scenes of the publishing world to witness the wheeling and dealing required to create the next best-seller.

UPCOMING SCREENINGS:

London screening in January - tbc
DVD release on February 1st, 2010 - click here for details

REVIEWS:

"I doubt a more truthful film exists in relation to the literary world and if it does it could scarcely be more energetic, funny or stylish. A real gem, packed with wonderful lines and two incredible performances. This is a challenging and thought provoking film that treats its audience with a maturity and respect, which is unfortunately all too rare in British cinema. Seek it out." Robert Monk's blog

"Anyone with any sort of artistic ambitions whatsoever will love The Agent, even as a little bit of them dies inside while it confirms what they already know – that talent and taste are meaningless in the marketplace. There's plenty of tension, and some stirring arguments that will go on long after the film has finished." Kate Wellham, Telegraph Online

"Lesley Manning’s witty exposé of the book world’s corrupted soul is Swimming With Literary Sharks." Total Film

"An excellent stage to screen adaptation... The Agent pretty much boils down to two men talking, but it’s a cracking argument. An impressive, no-frills piece of intelligent entertainment." Sam Toy – Empire Online

"Quietly compelling... a blackly comic drama about a desperate writer (Stephen Kennedy) taking events into his own hands when he tires of his agent’s procrastination and evasiveness.” Adrian Hennigan – BBC Film Network

"An accomplished two-hander – deserves distribution." Philip French – The Observer

"A smart two-hander with a nimble, well-paced script, spot-on performances, and some compelling arguments... The Agent is to be celebrated. Watching it is like the most exciting day at work you never had. A witty, sparky delight from start to finish." Tom Vincent – Bradford International Film Festival

"The two performers play off each other with considerable skill, both convincing and watchable. Recommended." Screenjabber

"Sharp, funny and engrossing." Film Four

"Imbued with passion and anger... a sharp criticism of the publishing industry." Milkpop

"Thoughtful and thorough." Eye for Film

"A watchable, well acted and sharply written drama that's like a micro-budget cousin of films like The King of Comedy or Swimming With Sharks. Worth seeing." View London

"Any professional author will find it hard to resist the plot of The Agent... Production values are top-notch." The Times

"Strongly acted by Kennedy and Beck, with a nice came from Maureen Lipman as a mega-buck publisher." The Guardian

"An intriguing two-hander." Daily Express

"The two leads are superb." London Evening Standard

"A comedy of menace... the suspense is well-sustained, the acting convincing and the payoff is as black as the title of Stephen's novel." Philip French, The Observer

"A labour of love and principle, right down to the uncommercial ending, its message does lodge in the mind." Sky Movies

Cast

William Beck (Alexander - the agent)
William Beck is best known for his television roles as Reece in Attachments and Roy in Robin Hood and starred as Michael in Rufus Norris' highly acclaimed Almeida production of Festen.

Stephen Kennedy (Stephen - the writer)
Stephen Kennedy plays Ian Craig in The Archers, and has recently appeared in Richard Eyre's film Notes on a Scandal. His recent theatre credits include Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party and Cyrano de Bergerac (both at Bristol old Vic), Women of Troy at the National Theatre as well as performances at the Royal Court, The Riverside Studios and the RSC.

Maureen Lipman (Charlie - the publisher)
Maureen Lipman is one of the UK’s most prolific and respected actresses on stage, television and feature films. Recently she has appeared in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist and as the wire in Dr Who.

also with Lucy Bayler, Richard Trinder, Aislinn Mangan, Laura Morgan, Robert Bowman, Fergus O'Donnell, Henry Hereford, Brendan McNamara, Miranda Inman and more

Crew

Lesley Manning (director/producer)
Lesley Manning is a film and television director. Her credits include Ghostwatch, one of the BBC's highest rating single drama, P.O.V., Berkeley Square and the forthcoming Telepathy, written by Stephen Volk.

Martin Wagner (writer/producer)
Martin Wagner is a writer, film-maker and publisher living in London. His first novel, Rachel's Machine, was published by Pinter & Martin in the UK and Mondadori in Italy. His acclaimed book The Little Driver is used in Spain to educate children about traffic issues, and was followed by the biting satire on contemporary politics The Little Politician. (His full bio is here).

Humphrey Jaeger (production designer)
Humphrey Jaeger is a Bafta nominated set designer whose credits include An American Haunting and the upcoming Wide Blue Yonder starring Brian Cox and Lauren Bacall.

Jonathan Harvey (cinematographer)

Simon Lambros (music)

Adrian Rhodes (supervising sound editor)

Brendan McNamara (casting director)
Brendan has been working in casting since 1998. His recently established company Beach Casting worked on projects such As Katy Brands Big Ass TV Show for ITV and many others.