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Breach

  • 20072007
  • K-11K-11
  • 1h 50min
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
59K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,649
329
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper in Breach (2007)
Clip: O'Neill confronts Hanssen in the woods
Play clip0:47
Breach
6 Videos
59 Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama

FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was put on trial for selling secrets to the Soviet Union.FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was put on trial for selling secrets to the Soviet Union.FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was put on trial for selling secrets to the Soviet Union.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
59K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,649
329
  • Director
    • Billy Ray
  • Writers
    • Adam Mazer(screenplay)
    • William L. Rotko(screenplay)
    • Billy Ray(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chris Cooper
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Dennis Haysbert
Top credits
  • Director
    • Billy Ray
  • Writers
    • Adam Mazer(screenplay)
    • William L. Rotko(screenplay)
    • Billy Ray(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chris Cooper
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Dennis Haysbert
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 230User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Videos6

    Breach
    Clip 0:47
    Breach
    Breach
    Clip 1:03
    Breach
    Breach
    Featurette 0:23
    Breach
    Breach
    Interview 0:40
    Breach
    Breach
    Interview 0:39
    Breach
    Breach
    Interview 0:39
    Breach

    Photos59

    Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper in Breach (2007)
    Chris Cooper in Breach (2007)
    Laura Linney in Breach (2007)
    Caroline Dhavernas in Breach (2007)
    Kathleen Quinlan in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Caroline Dhavernas in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Laura Linney in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Dennis Haysbert in Breach (2007)
    Ryan Phillippe and Caroline Dhavernas in Breach (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chris Cooper
    Chris Cooper
    • Robert Hanssenas Robert Hanssen
    Ryan Phillippe
    Ryan Phillippe
    • Eric O'Neillas Eric O'Neill
    Dennis Haysbert
    Dennis Haysbert
    • Dean Plesacas Dean Plesac
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Kate Burroughsas Kate Burroughs
    Caroline Dhavernas
    Caroline Dhavernas
    • Juliana O'Neillas Juliana O'Neill
    Gary Cole
    Gary Cole
    • Rich Garcesas Rich Garces
    Kathleen Quinlan
    Kathleen Quinlan
    • Bonnie Hanssenas Bonnie Hanssen
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • John O'Neillas John O'Neill
    Jonathan Watton
    Jonathan Watton
    • Geddesas Geddes
    Tom Barnett
    Tom Barnett
    • Jim Olsenas Jim Olsen
    Jonathan Potts
    Jonathan Potts
    • D.I.A. Suitas D.I.A. Suit
    David Huband
    David Huband
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Catherine Burdon
    Catherine Burdon
    • Agent Neceas Agent Nece
    Scott Gibson
    Scott Gibson
    • Agent Sherinas Agent Sherin
    Courtenay J. Stevens
    Courtenay J. Stevens
    • Agent Loperas Agent Loper
    • (as Courtenay Stevens)
    Clare Stone
    Clare Stone
    • Lisa Hanssenas Lisa Hanssen
    Jonathan Keltz
    Jonathan Keltz
    • Greg Hanssenas Greg Hanssen
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    Richard Fitzpatrick
    • Michael Rochfordas Michael Rochford
    • Director
      • Billy Ray
    • Writers
      • Adam Mazer(screenplay) (story)
      • William L. Rotko(screenplay) (story)
      • Billy Ray(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In February, 2001, Robert Hanssen, a senior agent with 25 years in the FBI, is arrested for spying. Jump back two months: Eric O'Neill, a computer specialist who wants to be made an agent is assigned to clerk for Hanssen and to write down everything Hanssen does. O'Neill's told it's an investigation of Hanssen's sexual habits. Within weeks, the crusty Hanssen, a devout Catholic, has warmed to O'Neill, who grows to respect Hanssen. O'Neill's wife resents Hanssen's intrusiveness; the personal and professional stakes get higher. How they catch Hanssen and why he spies become the film's story. Can O'Neill help catch red-handed "the worst spy in history" and hold onto his personal life? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    investigationwashington monument washington d.c.fbi federal bureau of investigationcia central intelligence agencyclerk167 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Inspired by the true story of the greatest security breach in U.S. history
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • History
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • K-11
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the hallway, we constantly see a poster with names and pictures of spies that have been caught, as well as short narratives of what their crimes were and how much time they're serving. These posters really exist in secure government facilities, and prominently displayed on all of them, since the events of this movie took place, is a photo of Robert Hanssen.
    • Goofs
      Eric and Robert enter a church and Eric makes the sign of the cross incorrectly. Since much of the plot involves Eric's and Robert's Catholicism, it would have been an error that would have made Robert suspicious.
    • Quotes

      Eric O'Neill: What if he's smarter than I am?

      Kate Burroughs: A couple of years ago, the bureau put together a task force. Lots of assets had been disappearing. So this task force was formed to find the mole who was giving them up. Our best analysts poring over data for years looking for the guy, and they could never quite find him. Guess who was put in charge of the task force? He was smarter than all of us. Actually, I can live with that part. It's the idea that my entire career has been a waste of time, that's the part I hate. Everything I've done since I got to this office, everything we've all been paid to do, he was undoing it. We all coulda just stayed home.

    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: Breach (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Near You
      Written by Francis Craig, Kermit Goell

      Performed by The Andrews Sisters

      Courtesy of Geffen Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews230

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    I Matter Plenty
    Greetings again from the darkness. Writer/Director Billy Ray was the creative force behind "Shattered Glass" a few years ago and obviously is drawn to true stories of human deception. Here he takes on one of our biggest fears ... a federal agent who sells out his own country. Normally we only get these type of scenarios in LeCarre novels, but the story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen is a real life nightmare.

    Perfect casting has Chris Cooper as the very odd Hanssen who has nearly 25 years with the bureau, many of which have been spent selling off national secrets to the Soviet Union. In an almost unbelievable stroke of luck, Hanssen was put in charge of finding the mole ... yes, his job was to find himself!! Cooper is very strong here as the ego-maniacal tortured soul who pulls off his deceit with a disarming devotion to religion, the bureau and blending. He appears to be just another working stiff pulling in a paycheck.

    Most of the supporting staff is solid. Laura Linney is slightly miscast as the agent in charge of bringing Hanssen down. Dennis Haysbert is her boss. Gary Cole plays it straight here, and Kathleen Quinlan (as Hanssen's wife) and Bruce Davison (as Eric O'Neill's dad) have brief but effective turns. Caroline Dhavernas is an actress I am not familiar with, but her performance here has me intrigued.

    The weak link in the film is Ryan Phillipe, who just doesn't possess the acting chops to pull off the pivotal role of Eric O'Neill - the agent wannabe who gets thrust into the crucial position of bringing Hanssen down. It is just implausible to believe Phillipe could ever pass the FBI entrance exam, much less outsmart the guy who outsmarted the entire bureau for two decades. Despite the weakness, the story is strong enough to overcome this and maintain the quasi-thriller feel. This is quite an accomplishment for a film when all the viewers know how it will end!! The real life Hanssen is spending life in prison and O'Neill immediately resigned from the bureau for the "normal" life of a Washington attorney. Part spy thriller, part history lesson, part psychoanalysis, "Breach" is very enjoyable despite the fact that we are provided no real answers as to WHY this man acted as he did. We are only led to believe that it wasn't the money, but instead the ego that drove his madness.
    helpful•59
    25
    • ferguson-6
    • Feb 19, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 16, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Universal Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Arabic
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Vakooja
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
      • Outlaw Productions (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $33,231,264
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,504,990
      • Feb 18, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $40,953,935
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 50min
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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