Breach
Review by Todd Hertz | posted 2/16/2007
 1 of 4
Breach is the third spy film in only a few months to examine the personal costs required to work in the deceitful and dangerous world of espionage. In Casino Royale, The Good Shepherd and now this FBI thriller based on a true story, characters discover the very real need to shut down emotionally, surrender personal relationships and spin webs of deception in order to protect their countries.
Each film asks weighty questions: Is it personally worth it? Do the ends justify the means?
What sets Breach apart from Casino Royale and The Good Shepherd is that a main character answers "no."
Chris Cooper as Robert Hanssen, and Ryan Phillippe as Eric O'Neill
Breach is based on the true story of Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), the 25-year FBI veteran who was arrested in 2001 for selling U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union and Russia for most of his career. His espionage reportedly cost the U.S. millions in dollars and even more in lives. This is where the film begins—with actual footage of John Ashcroft's press conference about Hanssen's arrest. And then, the film rewinds to tell how it happened.
Hanssen's arrest was the result of the FBI's largest operation until that point—with over 50 agents working the case. In the end, the key player was an unproven 27-year-old up-and-comer, Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe). O'Neill, working under the supervision of Special Agent Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney), posed as Hanssen's clerk to patiently observe Hanssen and secure evidence to catch the traitor in the act.
In realistically capturing the final days of the case, Breach packs good intrigue, tension and peeks at modern spy work. But in terms of plotting and action, it's fairly standard though effective. What truly makes the film is its success as a revealing character study of both O'Neill and Hanssen. Hanssen's downfall serves as a clear warning to young gun O'Neill, who finds that his dream job of FBI agent forces him to lie to his wife and live two distinctly different lives. The experience changes the cocky and ambitious O'Neill. He sees the dark side of his job: the sacrifices, the lies, the emotional pain. He sees the job changing him (and his marriage) in ways he doesn't want. His arc—true to the real life O'Neill's story—is realistic and redeeming.
Laura Linney as Special Agent Kate Burroughs
Still, the power of O'Neill's journey pales in comparison to that of Hanssen's—despite an admirable performance by Phillippe. This is the result of two main factors.
First, the film spends a great deal more energy on Hanssen's impulses, psychology and weaknesses than on O'Neill's. And rightfully so: Hanssen's story is fascinating. The film does a masterful job at delving into his mind and heart. But that leaves some of O'Neill's struggles and motivations less clear. If Hanssen's portrait is drawn in lush brushstrokes, O'Neill's is often dotted lines.
The second reason why Hanssen's journey dominates Breach is because Hanssen is played by the captivating Chris Cooper (Adaptation, Seabiscuit). While the film is a solid thriller in its own right, Cooper's performance itself will sell tickets. While possibly too early to create the needed Oscar buzz for 2008, Cooper deserves to be remembered at this time next year. He's that good. He commands the movie in such a haunting and powerful way that you can't look away while in the theater—or forget him out of it.
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