Breach tells the story of Robert Hanssen, one of the most treasonous people in American history. Forgiving the fact it falls just short of suspenseful, Breach is an entertaining flick.
Ryan Phillippe plays ambitious FBI cadet Eric O'Neill, sent in to watch sexual deviant Agent Robert Hanssen. Agent Kate Burroughs, Laura Linney's character, doesn't give O'Neill all the information in the beginning; he isn't just a deviant, he's a traitor too. Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) is a devout catholic who sells his soul, or at least natural security secrets, to the Russians for over thirty years. O'Neill is eventually brought into the fold and the hunt for a double agent intensifies.
Well, the hunt for a double agent should have intensified. Contrary to what a good spy movie needs, there is little intensity or suspense in Breach. There is a scene where O'Neill has to return things exactly where they are supposed to be. This should have been writer/director Billy Ray and writers Adam Mazer and William Rotko's chance to make me scoot to the edge of my seat, breathing in the ear of the person in front of me. Instead, I wanted to smack O'Neill for being stupid and my butt was planted solidly in the back of my seat.
There is a lot of lying in the film; lying by Robert Hanssen, lying by O'Neill, by nearly everyone. Hanssen, supposedly legendary for his lie-detection skills, couldn't see through the lies that this cadet televises. Whenever he lies, he looks like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. He leans forward, raises his eyebrows in a way he doesn't usually, eyes more open and keeping eye contact too solidly. If he is the hope to find out what this guy is doing and who he is doing it with, America is screwed.
The personal problems that the case causes O’Neill and his wife Juliana (Caroline Dhavernas) feel sincerely troubling. Juliana tries to find her place as an "FBI Wife" but the lies and disinformation creates a conflict between spouses. When O'Neill's job requires him to include his personal life, things between Juliana and Eric get more strenuous. Eventually, whenever Eric comes home, I began to wonder if his wife was even going to be there anymore.
Hanssen's religiosity is a cause of great tension in the film. It arouses emotional issues between all of the characters. Its toll is felt most greatly by Eric and Juliana. Expect to spend lots of your time rolling your eyes, shaking your head and wanting to punch people, if you're anything like me.
Chris Cooper is reason enough to see the movie. His performance is confusing, disturbing and infuriating. Cooper eloquently compartmentalizes the different aspects of the character's life. I honestly believed that Hanssen believes in the strict Catholic teachings he spews. I honestly believe he thinks he is an exceptional agent, even though he is selling information to the Russians. I bought that it's his sincere belief he is a good husband, even though he has sexual perversions that any self-respecting wife would agree contradicts that belief. Cooper keeps these characters separate and yet, firms them with some contiguity in one man’s persona. Minor Spoiler: His performance at the end of the movie, he has a 15-second scene that rumpled my eyebrows while feeling the urge to comfort him.
Laura Linney doesn't bother me as much as she usually does in Breach. The distinctive, yet annoying, speech pattern Linney has is less evident as this FBI agent. I don't know if she is working with a speech trainer or if she just found a role that isn't as annoying as usual, but thank goodness that her whiney auditory ups and downs are quelled for this role.
Breach isn't a work of art, lacks suspense, and falls flat in a lot of scenes. Chris Cooper's portrayal of Robert Hanssen is stirring and makes Breach worth a watch when there is nothing else to do on a rainy day.
"Breach" opens February 16, 2007 and is rated PG13. Drama. Directed by Billy Ray. Written by Adam Mazer, William Rotko, Billy Ray. Starring Caroline Dhavernas, Chris Cooper, Dennis Haysbert, Gary Cole, Kathleen Quinlan, Laura Linney, Ryan Phillipe.
