Today’s quick review: Breach. Aspiring FBI agent Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) gets the chance to prove himself when he’s assigned to spy on Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), a veteran agent suspected of sexual misconduct. By all accounts, Robert appears to be a devout Catholic, a loving husband, and a loyal civil servant. But as the investigation progresses, Eric learns the truth: that Robert has been leaking state secrets to Russia.
Breach is a spy drama about one of the greatest intelligence breaches in U.S. history. Based on a true story, Breach follows the investigation into suspected traitor Robert Hanssen from the perspective of Eric O’Neill, the sharp rookie assigned to monitor him. The movie takes a close look at both men and the toll the investigation takes on them. Solid acting and robust character work are somewhat offset by a slow-paced plot with few thrills.
Breach doesn’t aim for suspense per se. The conversations between Robert and Eric are fraught with peril as Eric tries to maintain his cover in spite of Robert’s keen mind and tendency to pry into Eric’s personal life. But, with one or two exceptions, the stakes only go as high as the investigation itself. Breach does a good job of introducing a soft cat-and-mouse game between the two men, but it never cashes it out into concrete tension.
Breach also emphasizes its characters. The movie in part acts as a portrait of Robert Hanssen, portrayed as a complex man whose religious devotion and humble career of service are at odds with his harsh personality and his alleged crimes. For his part, Eric O’Neill must juggle the taxing investigation with the increasing strain on his marriage. Neither character is brilliant, but both of them are fleshed out in detail and acted convincingly.
Still, Breach will not be what every viewer is looking for. The hooks that it plants are subtle, its pacing is slow, and its conflict is indirect. The movie spends as much time building up its characters as it does playing out the actual investigation. Given Breach’s origins as a true story, this is a reasonable tradeoff to make, but it does mean that the movie won’t have much to offer fans of the flashy, neatly packaged plots of fictional thrillers.
Breach will appeal to viewers who are interested in the personal, realistic side of the spy genre. It does well with the material it has to work with, but it’s missing the spark needed to reach viewers expecting something more lurid. Those content with characters, ethical dilemmas, and indirect sorts of tension will find it to be a satisfying watch. Those hoping for a proper thriller will want to steer clear.
For a realistic spy drama with a wider scope and greater moral ambiguity, try The Good Shepherd. For a thriller with a similar premise and more action, try The Recruit or The Double. For a portrait of two criminals with a similar emphasis on character, try Donnie Brasco.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for skillfully drawn characters in a story that skews dry.