Name of movie: Breach
Date: 2007
Length (hrs) Approx 1 hr 45 mins
Film genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Characters:
Chris Cooper as Robert Hanssen
Ryan Phillippe as Eric O’Neill
Laura Linney as Kate burroughs
Awards: AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 2008 – Best Actor ‘Chris Cooper’
Setting: FBI Headquarters, Washington DC
Plot information: Robert Hanssen was a high level FBI agent who spied for Russia for money and other reasons.
When does the movie take place? Approximately 2000-2002
What happens in the movie? The plot is quite simple in that Robert Hanssen is transferred to FBI HQ to head up a new section, but in reality his move is to sideline him and to enable the FBI to monitor more closely his behaviour. To this end O’Neill is brought in as his gopher, but in reality again he is to observe and report on Hanssen’s moves.
What makes the movie interesting? The interesting features of the movie is that there is not action sequences, it is all based around character; and to this end both Chris Cooper as Hanssen, and Ryan Phillippe as O’Neill are brilliant. It is the development of the character of both of these men, of how they are both living double lives, and how eventually both come to the end of the story having moved their personal life in a totally different direction
I was really surprised at Ryan Phllippe’s handling and development of his character of O’Neill (a young, enthusiastic agent who is looking to grow within the agency), and look forward to him doing more work which is character led rather than some of the light weight items he has previously carried out.
How do you feel when the movie ended? The movie didn’t bring up any surprises, but it did leave some unanswered ones, especially since watching the movie I have read up on Hanssen.
I would recommend this movie to those who are will to watch and listen, and enjoy character led stories.
On a scale of 1 (don’t like) – 5 (like), for me I would give this movie a 4 out of 5
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