No Secrets Here, Breach is Great
Tuxxer
"Based on a True Story." There's been a lot of that popping up at the theaters lately; with some dramatized versions of the truth being better than others. Breach is definitely better than most.
The story of Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), a FBI agent who's been selling secrets to the Russians for two decades; Breach follows the perspective of young Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe), the agent-in-training ordered to go undercover in Hanssen's office.
O'Neill is young but talented, with his professional life in front of him. He has a beautiful, supportive wife at home (Caroline Dhavernas) and a genuine desire to serve his country. Agent Burroughs (Laura Linney) directs O'Neill into the operation that will make his career.
Cooper as Hanssen is fantastic. He makes the spy into a fully fleshed out 3-dimensional character; both with attitudes and traits that viewers can choose to admire or find annoying. He's almost sympathetic, which is pitch-perfect for the role. Phillippe's O'Neill is also very good; the mounting frustration he feels as the case progresses is terrific stuff.
Linney has experience playing cold women, and those performances help make Agent Burroughs what she needs to be—the more officious face of a conflict with many sides.
As a thriller, the movie suffers only from two real flaws—the first being that we know at the start of the film what the outcome will be (a telecast provides information on Hanssen's arrest). The second is the film's repeated reliance on tried plot devices; namely the act of searching through the suspect's files and belongings when he's getting closer and closer. Each time, the circumstances are unique...but it's still an old tool.
The movie's most surprising gems are in the dialogue. Characters make off-the-cuff remarks that are totally true to character, yet dry and funny. Laura Linney's character confesses she would be a lousy source for relationship advice—she doesn't even own a cat.
Another enjoyable aspect of the movie is seeing characters work with and against government bureaucracy. O'Neill struggles with a derelict computer, Hanssen has him simply step out in the hall and appropriate one of several new models waiting on paperwork.
Pacing seems a bit slow once or twice, but 110 minutes, the movie is just right.
Religion plays a large part of the Hanssen's character, but enough to be overwhelming or distracting. It simply illustrates a good point: Bad guys can have their good points, too.
Breach is a very good movie. If you're a fan of intrigue, government operations and genuine human conflict; go see it. You won't be disappointed.
8 out of 10.
You can visit the official site Breachmovie.net and check out the sweet trailer from Quicktime.com
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