Breach (2007)

Many films based on a true story are either hampered by their source material or dragged down by uninspired transition from reality to screen. "Breach" is an exception to this rule by provided high drama and suspense even whey you know what is coming and how everything will turn out.For a basic plot summary, "Breach" sees young FBI recruit Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) tabbed by the Bureau to spy on senior agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), who is both a sexual deviant and a traitor and thus an embarrassment/risk to the organization.For me, this movie succeeded on two different levels:First, of course, is the tension in trying to catch the most accomplished spy in United States history. Not until the very end of the film do viewers find out if Hanssen is on to the investigators, thus creating suspense in nearly every scene.Second, and perhaps most importantly, is the portrait painted of Hanssen. There are so many discrepancies between "Hanssen the spy" & "Hanssen the man" that puzzling through them leads to a fascinating character study. Without knowing "the whole story" (and you won't, unless you have prior knowledge of the case, until the very end of the movie) about Hanssen, you will (at times) actually find yourself agreeing with many things he says/does. He is an intensely conflicted individual, to be sure, and those types of personalities just translate well onto the big screen. I give director Billy Ray props for that transition.About the only reason I can't give this film the full five stars (4.5 would more more accurate) is because it could have focused so much more on WHY Hanssen was doing his espionage to begin with. This is hinted at throughout the movie, but I felt it needed to be better developed in order to take "Breach" to that "next level".Overall, "Breach" is a great flick that tells an intriguing story about a real-life individual. The acting is top-notch, the suspense/drama is palpable, and the morality issues & character development are superb. If you like political films in particular, this one will rocket to the top of your "favorites" list.

It's two months before the arrest of Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) for espionage in 2001. Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is ambitious, desperate to be an FBI agent and married to Juliana (Caroline Dhavernas). He is assigned by Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney) to investigate senior agent Hanssen who is a computer expert, former Soviet analyst and a suspected sexual deviant. Hanssen is lured back to headquarters in a new division and O'Neill is inserted as his assistant. Hanssen is arrogant and looks down on his superior Rich Garces (Gary Cole).Director Billy Ray's first film "Shattered Glass" is one of the few films that Hayden Christensen is actually good in. I think that's not an accident. Chris Cooper is terrific and Ryan Phillippe is not that bad either as an eager beaver. The trick for Ryan is to portray a smart guy who still falls for Hanssen. I also love the unflashy style for the FBI setting. It has the feel of reality. The muted colors fit the icy tension and a cold-hearted espionage case. The flash comes from the actors and the relationships they build. Chris Cooper deserves some recognition for his work here.

Breach is a wonderful, slow-burning thriller based on the worst breach in American history. It also goes along well as a cat-and-mouse thriller between the undercover FBI agent, O'Neill and the suspected man himself, Robert Hanssen. Even though the film is a work of fiction, it provides lots of information about the actual events, and I learned a lot that way. The film goes a good job in building up the tension, despite knowing exactly how the film is going to end. The film is well-acted and provides a strong script.Billy Ray's film is about an FBI agent named Eric O'Neill who desperately wants a promotion and he seizes his chance when he is tasked to get close to a senior agent named Robert Hanssen who has also been labeled as a sexual deviant but it is also believed he is selling secrets to the Soviets. While undercover, the task proves to be hard as O'Neill begins to grow fond of the man and is facing issues at home because of his new boss.The film is well-acted especially from Chris Cooper who gives a tour-de-force performance as Robert Hanssen. Cooper gives a strong amount of a cunning and untrustworthy personality and it gave me the creeps sometimes as I felt he could see through O'Neill's identity. Ryan Phillippe gives a good performance as the young O'Neill who eventually became a hero of the FBI. Laura Linney also does well as the stern, no-nonsense boss of O'Neill.Overall, Breach is a chilling story depicting the worst espionage any American have committed in history. It shows just how vulnerable our secrets can be, especially in the wrong hands. I like how the film also turned into a deep character study focusing on the Catholicism of Hanssen. This is a fantastic film, although it's a bit of a slow burner. I rate this film 9/10.

This was pretty good for such a dry, slow-burning movie, it drags at times but still manages to keep a level of tension and suspense going throughout and I id end up really enjoying this. Ultimately it was the strong performances from both Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe that saved this for me.Cooper is intense and creepy here displaying a range of mystique. Laura Linney as his handler was quite bitchy. Ryan plays an FBI Trainee who is assigned to keep en eye on a fellow agent suspected of selling information to the soviets. Its his first real case and initially he's not even sure what he's looking for. 7/17/14