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199 reviews in total

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Real-life spy intrigue, well-played, 12 March 2007

Author: S.R. Dipaling from Topeka, Kansas, USA

I struggled to find an effective summary line for this film. Really,there's very little way to describe this show,either from an objective viewpoint or subjective one. I must confess that my knowledge of the FBI,the Robert Hanssen spy case or the people around it is decidedly sparse.In fact,when I saw the dateline for the events in question,I had to shake my brain because I seemed to have remembered the events in question as being LONGER AGO than it was. Of course,all of this is really of no issue,I found this film very well done.

Towards the end of 2000,the FBI gets wind of a mole in their ranks. They finally narrow it down to agent and computer whiz Robert Hanssen(Chris Cooper,in just "another day at the office" as an effective,nuanced character performance),and have just enough dirt on him to start a case,but yet to catch him in the act. That's where Eric O'Neill(Ryan Phillipe,who might be getting BOTH better roles AND doing better performances),a would-be FBI agent,enters into the fray,as he is recruited by a supervisory agent(LAura Linney,tough and inscrutable here)to track Hanssen in what turns into a part Cat-and-Mouse,part confidence scheme as O'Neill steadily gains HAnsen's(And his family's)trust. Of course,as per any spy film--based in pure reality or inspired fiction--the closer the pursuant comes to snaring his target,the closer he comes to being compromised.

THere is little suspense here,in essence,since it's been established that HAnssen was captured,but there's still enough tension in the delicate task of catching someone in the act of espionage without the mission being snuffed out. Whenever a movie can portray a real event where the end result is either already of common knowledge or is not a kept secret,and still able to create an amount of nervous uncertainty and suspense,THAT'S an accomplishment worth note. THe mood of the film is decidedly sober,and the action and pacing is deliberately,believably slow,which leads me to think that this is much more often how spies are caught and leaks found out. Fantastic performances by Cooper(who,if I recall correctly,is A LOT less creepy looking than the real Agent HAnssen),Phillipe,Linney and KAthleen Quinlan(As HAnssen's super-devout CAtholic wife)anchor what is a basically well-fleshed out movie(acting-wise)all around. Director Billy RAy wisely chooses to make the images as dark and foreboding as possible(nonetheleast of which because the story takes place in the winter months),even when some situations aren't as grim or nervous as others. If you like movies that take a studied,careful look at real-life tragedy/intrigue,then I'd like to recommend Breach to you.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
A great spy movie even without the over-used suspenseful plot pieces, 8 March 2007

Author: ToddTee from Southern California

First of all, I found this movie to be dominated by a powerful performance by Chris Cooper, accompanied by the best Ryan Philippe performance ever by far. The Cooper portrayal shows that his performances of the past few years have been no flukes. That said, I found all the actors to be "dead on" for their parts and the screenplay exceptionally well written. I went because of good reviews and I was not disappointed.

I think the fact that nearly all of us knew the outcome going in, and for those who didn't John Ashcroft himself tells us in the first scene, gives it that touch of the different that makes it shine.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Folks Will Be Watching This Film A 100 Years From Now!, 2 March 2007

Author: liberalgems from Baltimore, Maryland

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I consider Breach a true masterpiece! A film like this only comes along once or twice a year! A pure joy to watch, and absolutely perfect in every way! While I'm sure plenty of this "true story" is fabricated, what's most important are the parts that are all too real!

The film makes a subtle, but scathing, indictment of Roman Cathoicism in particular and religiosity in general; likewise for the FBI and all other American intelligence agencies.

How could a twisted, homophobic creep find solace in Opus Dei, an ultra-conservative movement within the Roman Catholic Church? The answer is simple: Over the past 25 years Pope John Paul 2, and his close ally, Pope Bennedict have allowed the ultra-conservative elements of the Church to thrive. Meanwhile the liberal movements within the church - from former liberal Congressman Father Robert Drinan S.J. to Catholic theologians Fr. Charles Curran and Fr. Mathew Fox to the liberation theology seminaries of the developing countries - have been allowed to wither on the vine. (Actually Congressman Father Drinan was told to quit; theologian Curran was banned from his job; theologian Fox was "silenced" - (I kid you not!) - and he has since left the Church; the liberation theology seminaries have all since been closed.) Given the direction of the Church, I don't find it the least bit hard to believe convert Hanssen found comfort with a religious movement that would only be too happy to turn back the clock!

Next, how could the FBI allow one of it's top spies to betray the American people for around twenty years? To add insult to injury, the FBI remained clueless until Soviet defectors were paid 6 million dollars to spill the beans on Hanssen, and others like him! And these are same folks the American public are supposed to trust with their lives!

But in hindsight, the events of 9/11 proves when the chips are down, our lofty American intelligence agencies do not add up to a hill of beans. But they did blame everyone else for their failure because their "hands were tied" by laws protecting American privacy, and even by the "rule of law, itself!" I mean, it's war - first a Cold one, now a hot religious one - so anything goes!

But what was most endearing about this wonderful film is the very moving decision by our hero FBI agent to quit while the quitting was good! In other words, he had both the sense, and courage, to put his, and his wife's, emotional wellbeing ahead of his career with all its supposed glory!

Which left me with a smile on my face as I walked out of the theater!

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Great Investigative Thriller & Scary Portrait of the FBI, 24 February 2007

Author: harborrat28 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This film was well done from a couple of perspectives.

First, it was an eye-opening picture of one of the biggest traitors in American history. The story of the extent of Richard Hansson's perfidy and of the damage that he did to our intelligence gathering efforts for a couple of decades -- all while serving as a respected insider in what claims to be America's best investigative agency* -- was engrossing. Chris Cooper, as Hansson, gives an excellent performance as a profoundly troubled and twisted man, who is brilliant, unlikeable by all except his religious wife and his grandchildren and, ultimately, unfathomable. Similarly, Eric Phillippe was perfect as the young FBI clerk who became one of the important actors in Hansson's ultimate undoing (along w/ an army of other dedicated agents).

Second, Cooper/Hansson's observations about the state of the FBI's IT systems and intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities in early 2001 are spot-on and scary. It is quite easy to understand why any hints about the coming firestorm in Lower Manhattan were lost. Moreoever, the description of how the most important thing to most agents was who would get the office with a window (or the best G-car or the best or latest Blackberry) and who would get on the high profile cases that would advance his/her career is one of the Bureau's most disgraceful dirty secrets. Like Hansson, I remember when the Bureau sent all the fatties and "odd" agents to the Foreign Counter Intelligence squads -- "rubber gun squads." I believe one of those agents, an extreme fatty and member of a major American religious faith, fell in love with a Russian spy, causing considerable embarrassment but little damage. Although I have been away from federal law enforcement for a while, I suspect that things have not changed all that much even now.**

In the end, this movie was a good story (even though we knew the outcome from the beginning) and a lens that focused us on a glaring (and uncorrected?) deficit in our country's security. I have spent the last 12 or so hours trying to figure out why Hansson did it. As the movie made clear, I'm not alone.

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*Others in law enforcement are more inclined to see the FBI as a legend in it's own mind!

**And I suspect that there is an added concern now in these post-911 times and that is moving potentially explosive investigations to someone else's desk (or to another agency) before they blow up on one's own watch.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Absorbing cat-and-mouse real-life account of FBI betrayal; Cooper & Phillippe deliver career high turns, 20 February 2007

Author: george.schmidt (gpschmidt67@gmail.com) from fairview, nj

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

BREACH (2007) *** Chris Cooper , Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavernas, Gary Cole, Dennis Haysbert, Kathleen Quinlan, Bruce Davison. Absorbing adaptation of the true- life account of FBI's taking down of one of their own, Robert Hanssen (Cooper in a stellar performance), who sold out his country to the Russians for 25 years until his arrest in 2001, thanks to a young, hungry agent Eric O'Neill (Phillippe, ditto), who was put into place by a covert operation causing a rift in O'Neill's situation: being mentored by a manipulative, charismatic rat. Well scripted by Adam Mazer, William Rotko, & director Billy Ray who weaves a taut, sharp & clever storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat even though the outcome is already infamously realized.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Outstanding Film, 20 February 2007

Author: Ted Michael Morgan from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

One too easily forgets how multifarious and rich a movie can be. Billy Ray's Breach transposes history into something with exquisite nuance. Several of my favorite actors create a splendid ensemble. Not only Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Caroline Dhavernas, Kathleen Quinlan but also actors with only brief time on screen help Mr. Ray and his editors weave a tight film with rich undertones. Several commentators have voiced observations about why this is an outstanding film. This work is already high on my list of spy films, but even more it recalls the films of classic Italian and Swedish directors from the fifties and sixties.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Excellent Spy Movie, 20 February 2007

Author: jeff_bennion from United States

Even though you know how it's going to end, you are intrigued the whole way through. Chris Cooper does an absolutely phenomenal job as Hanssen. There were so many things that were portrayed by his simple subtleties. The movie is suspenseful the whole way through. Although this movie is an excellent spy movie, it is not in the same genre as James Bond or Spy Game. This is just a retelling of the dramatic events that led up to the arrest of Hanssen. It's more like a documentary/suspense film than an action movie. But nevertheless, it is an excellent movie. I don't know how much of the movie is based on facts and how much is made up, but it was entertaining.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Filled with thrills and chills!, 19 February 2007

Author: jdkraus from Maineville, Ohio

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Based off of the true story of the biggest security breach in the U.S. government history, the film delivers a powerful and intense tale of federal agent Robert Hansen, whom was apprehended and "caught in the act" for selling classified information to the Russians.

Ryan Phillippe gave a strong performance as the new coming agent who is sent on the dreaded task of observing Robert Hansen. His internal struggles of being loyal to his immediate boss (Laura Linney) and country, while spying on a fellow agent, in the mix with not being able to tell the truth to his nosy wife (Caroline Daverhnas), implodes on camera with very believable acting. Phillippe was astounding! With all these events at hand, it all adds up to being a crisis that was compressed into a tight thrill ride. But despite all of this action, the film tended to drag a bit, making my butt itch a little.

And last but not least, Chris Cooper, who played Robert Hansen, gave a very compelling and chilling performance as Hansen, whom on the outside is a solemn, respectable church going man who is devoted to his family and country, but on the inside is a master manipulator and player for the Soviets. This was truly one of Cooper's best performances.

The film was very well done, tying all the knots at the end, leaving no plot holes. Throughout though, the film had thrills, chills, plot twists, worthy acting, and a chilling ending, even though it was slow at times, but it does not let-up one bit!

Overall ***1/2 out of ****

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Tight "intellectual" thriller, 19 February 2007

Author: lastliberal from United States

One reviewer describes Chris Cooper's Robert Hanssen as having a "heavy dose of arrogance and a shifty, sneaky piety," and as "something of a jerk." Further "He's suspicious, disdainful of superiors and his new aide, and a little too-willing to break the rules." It sounds like the reviewer is a big fan of those public servants who "don't rock the boat," and plod along until they collect their pension. Me, I am a fan of the character Cooper played and thought Hanssen to be the ideal public servant.

Now, that is not to dismiss what he did. He was a spy and deserved to be caught. Breach is the story of how that happened, and it was a real delight. Cooper was magnificent, and I look forward to seeing him again in The Kingdom. Laura Linney was equally good, even though we did not get to see as much of her. I have only seen Ryan Phillippe in two movies before this, and I do not recall him in either one. His character here is equally memorable.

Don't get me wrong; I am a huge fan of the Bourne trilogy, and love what Matt Damon is doing on screen with that work, but sometimes I like my espionage in a British vein - psychological, suspenseful, and, dare I say it, intellectual, rather that a constant steam of explosions and car chases. Breach fits the bill and was a satisfying excursion.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Why can't there be more movies like this?, 19 February 2007

Author: guyfromjerzee from United States

In a day and age where they seem to make movies that cater to mongoloids, it was refreshing to see "Breach." An intelligent film with a well-written story--that's all I ask for! I saw this film with my mom, and she thought it was OK. She felt the story was good, but felt it made in a very quiet, boring fashion. And therein lies the problem. Why do people have to watch a movie that's brimming with explosions, special effects, and car chases? Why can't a good story in itself be satisfying to people? I'm sure plenty of people won't like the film, because it's a bit slow-moving and doesn't contain much action. But if you're like me and favors a good story over everything else, you should enjoy the film. People like to pick on Ryan Philippe, because...well, he's a young actor. It's fashionable to insult young actors. Sure, he's no Dustin Hoffman, but give the kid a break! He's pretty darn good, and has gotten better since his "Cruel Intention" days. It helps that he's playing off a great veteran character actor like Chris Cooper, who (as you can imagine) steals the film. Contrary to what you may gather from the trailers, his character isn't your typical ruthless villain. He's actually a decent human being in many aspects. To me, that must propose a much bigger challenge for an actor. It's probably quite easy to play a character like, say, The Joker in "Batman." To play an evil character with decent, human qualities is difficult, and I would even go as far as saying Cooper deserves an Oscar nod. The supporting cast also contains such talents as Laura Linney and Dennis Haysbert. A solid script, a solid cast--I certainly can't ask for much more!

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