When young Eric O'Neill (
Ryan Phillippe) is promoted out of his low-level surveillance job and into the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, his dream of becoming a full-fledged agent is on the verge of becoming reality. Even more impressive, O'Neill is hand picked to work for renowned operative Robert Hanssen (
Chris Cooper) within "information assurance," a new division created to protect all classified FBI Intelligence.
But O'Neill is quickly confronted with the true reason behind his hire: Hanssen is the sole subject of a long-term, top-secret investigation, a suspected mole made all the more dangerous by the sheer global import of the information he is charged with protecting. The Bureau asks O'Neill to use Hanssen's growing trust and slowly draw the traitor out of deep cover. Engaged in a lethal game of spy-versus-spy without the benefit of a cover story or backup, O'Neill finds himself fighting to bring down Hanssen before the treacherous double-agent can destroy O'Neill, his family and the nation they are both sworn to serve.
Canadian Connection: Partly filmed in Toronto, Ontario.
Not as good as I expected. Too many twists to keep up with.
Character development is unusually well developed.I expect that for those who prefer action in lieu of thought and are bored whenever their intellects are stretched even a little will have little to say that is positive.
For those who wonder why anyone would spy on his own country or who wonder about any of the whys and wherefores of human behavior this movie is for them. The story is well told and is carefully paced so that one can digest and even feel drawn into the process.
Film is grasping. Chris Cooper completely embodied his character. Ryan Phillipe personified youthful, yet powerful, intelligence. The story,albeit factual, is different. To be a movie worth enjoying, the ending has to be real yet wonderful; Breach is both.