Why did "Breach," the true story of the operation to catch FBI traitor Robert Hanssen starring

Posted by tinear (A) on August 20, 2007 at 05:30:32

Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillipe, and Laura Linney, sink so quickly below the waves?
It is superb, a thinking person's drama not unlike "A Spy Who Came in from the Cold" of several decades ago.
FBI exec Linney suspects squeaky clean, long term-about-to-retire agent Hanssen is the reason behind a series of spy outings (this was before the days of Bush and Rove...) which resulted in their deaths. She decides that assigning newly-minted agent Phillipe as an assistant to Hannsen is her best chance of catching him.
Yes, we've seen cat-and-mouse scenarios before but Cooper's interpretation of the enigmatic character of Hannsen is brilliant (as Oscar worthy a performance as you're likely to see these days).
Phillipe can't compete but he needn't: the role somewhat reminds of Brad Pitt's in "Se7en" wherein a long-suffering Morgan Freeman tolerated him; it is effective acting which doesn't detract from the principal's.
Laura Linney has a meaty role as the investigation's steward but she doesn't do much more than turn in a standard performance. She just doesn't convince me she really feels the emotions she displays.
But, these quibbles aside, it is an excellent film. Very well written, believably presented--- does Hannsen really know and does he really care about Phillipe (is he full of hubris or subconscious self-destruction)--- and a true thriller.
I don't know... maybe having a director with the name Billy Ray didn't help?
See this film.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - Why did "Breach," the true story of the operation to catch FBI traitor Robert Hanssen starring - tinear 05:30:32 08/20/07 (21)

I thought it was an excellent film, but then I'm over 50 - DWPC 09:36:37 08/21/07 (0)

Your "quibbles" are... - afilado 11:31:42 08/20/07 (17)

Giant disagreement about Cooper: he projects an INNER - tinear 15:07:49 08/20/07 (2)

I disagree... - afilado 18:59:37 08/20/07 (1)

Your points are all valid. I had forgotten "Iguana" and "Woolfe," yet - tinear 04:40:21 08/21/07 (0)

RE: Your "quibbles" are... - jamesgarvin 12:52:47 08/20/07 (13)

I'm glad... - afilado 14:27:07 08/20/07 (12)

RE: I'm glad... - jamesgarvin 14:54:58 08/20/07 (11)

What... - afilado 19:05:05 08/20/07 (10)

Sigh... - jamesgarvin 07:26:12 08/21/07 (9)

LOL!....Dear James.... - afilado 17:18:44 08/21/07 (8)

RE: LOL!....Dear James.... - jamesgarvin 08:46:44 08/22/07 (7)

Sigh!...LOL. - afilado 09:12:25 08/22/07 (6)

RE: Sigh!...LOL. - jamesgarvin 09:36:13 08/22/07 (5)

WTF!... - afilado 10:01:22 08/22/07 (4)

RE: WTF!... - jamesgarvin 10:23:04 08/22/07 (3)

James... - afilado 11:26:10 08/22/07 (2)

RE: James... - jamesgarvin 13:45:44 08/22/07 (1)

Once more... - afilado 17:02:04 08/22/07 (0)

I thought it was very good... - mkuller 09:52:19 08/20/07 (1)

RE: I thought it was very good... - jamesgarvin 12:33:53 08/20/07 (0)

Why did "Breach," the true story of the operation to catch FBI traitor Robert Hanssen starring

Post a Message!