Breach

Breach is one of my favorite movies. While it can be considered quite slow at times, but what real intelligence movie is not, it still pulls you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat even though the outcome of the movie is announced by John Ashcroft at the very beginning.

The movie follows a young and rather green FBI employee... not even an agent, yes not all cases are brought to a close by the big hitters, who is assigned to secretary for Robert Hanssen, that represented one of the largest intelligence breaches in US history. (Don't get him confused for Robert Hansen the serial killer). His breach was so large that we still don't know just how much information he passed to the Russians, the ramifications and severity of which can still put US assets and agents at risk.

The young FBI employee Eric O’Neill,  is played by Ryan Phillippe who fits the green persona perfectly. While sharp, he still fumbles through his new job, just like any young person trying too hard to impress a new boss, with what they think the new boss will like.

Hanssen is played by Chris Cooper, who is an amazing actor that can fit into just about any role, but is typically typecast into older, rigid,  straight laced roles, which anyone that has seen him perform can attest to. I know I wouldn't want him to be my new boss.

The case officer handling O’Neill is the beautiful and talented Laura Linney, who if she ever needs a date to a party or red carpet event, Im your man... its fine, I've already cleared with the wife. As Linney typically plays more serious roles such as Abigail Adams and Cathy Jamison in ‘The Big C’, this role fits her perfectly as she is the no nonsense female FBI case officer that even in the 90s and 00s still has to be tougher than the rest of the ‘shooting club’ boys.

The movie progresses from the mundane task of O’Neill typing up the every movement and action of Hanssen, to a tense looking down the barrel of a gun moment. I won't try to spoil anything for you, by giving away details but the movie, can still totally be classified as a thriller. It was made all the more real for me after hanging under a bridge in Foxstone Park, Virginia for a master’s degree project. Foxstone Park is significant because it was the site of Hanssen’s dead drops for Soviet officers.

I give it 4.5 microfilms in a hidden rock out 5.

Under the Bridge In Foxstone Park: Hanssen Dead Drop Site