Well here we are, only in February, and we've already got our first strong candidate as one of the great films of 2007. Great movies can sometimes come early in the year (My pick for best film of last year,
United 93, came out in April.), but seldom if ever do they hit during the dreary days of February. That's what makes
Breach so special. This is such a tight and suspenseful spy drama that it almost seems to be too good for this time of the year. The performances are certainly too good, and that's a real shame, as they most likely will not be recognized at the 2008 Oscars because this movie came out so early. I don't know what Universal is thinking, other than they wanted to relase the movie on the anniverary of the actual event, but I'm glad they're releasing a strong alternative to the junk that usually fills theater screens this time of year.
On Sunday, February 18th, 2001 (exactly six years to this weekend), veteran government agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for selling US secrets to foreign enemies. On the surface, Hanssen was an intelligent and pious man. He was deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, loved his family, and although he was outspoken about what he thought was wrong with the Bureau, he was seen by his fellow agents as a man of great intellect. There was another side to Hanssen, however. The side that willingly sold government secrets, cost the lives of many, and jeopardized his nation for his own financial gain. The film covers the final few months in Hanssen's career. In the film, he is portrayed by Chris Cooper in an Oscar-worthy performance. He has recently been reassigned to a new department, and has been given a young FBI upstart named Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) to work under him. What Hanssen does not know is that Eric has been assigned to monitor him, as the agency has reason to believe that Robert is the mole that has been leaking US Intelligence secrets out. The head of the internal investigation, Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney), does not tell this to Eric at first. Eric initially thinks that he is monitoring Hanssen because he is believed to be a sexual deviant. The two men slowly build a bond, and the more Eric learns about Robert, the harder it is to believe that such a loving family man could be a deviant. When he eventually learns the truth behind the investigation, the situation turns even more difficult for young Eric, as he must not only lie to the man he has come to respect in order to throw suspicion off that he knows the truth of his misdeeds, but he must also lie to his live-in girlfriend back at home (Caroline Dhavernas) in order to protect her.
At its very core,
Breach is a simple story elegantly told. This is not a mystery or a who done it, as we already know that Hanssen is the villain from the opening scene. We also know what will happen to him from the beginning, as the film opens with a short archival news footage concerning the official announcement of Hanssen's arrest. It is not the destination that is the focus of
Breach, but rather, it is the journey itself. This is a story about two men, and the power struggle that they secretly hold while trying to maintain the image of a working and eventual personal relationship. Robert Hanssen is a man who likes to preach, talk about what's wrong with the Bureau and the world itself, and basically views religion as the most important aspect in a man's life. He enjoys testing people to see if they meet his moral standards, and always seems to be keeping a watchful eye over everyone he comes in contact with. Of course, by the time the film begins, he's been selling secrets for years, and probably has come to learn that it's best not to really trust anyone in his line of work. Eric is a much more fresh-faced and naive young man. He's good at what he does, but he also makes mistakes, or doubts himself. He is stuck in a situation where he is forced to lie to both the man he works for and the woman he loves in order to keep his true mission a secret. This obviously takes a great toll on O'Neill, and we can see it begin to wear on him during the course of the film. It certainly doesn't help that he is working for a man who is considered one of the smartest men in the agency, and is famous for sniffing out people who don't tell the truth. Both men specialize in lying in their jobs, but one of them has been doing it longer than the other, and knows how to draw the truth out of others while hiding his own personal truth from those around him. Eric must find various ways to lead Robert on that he knows nothing about what he's doing in private, and this is what creates the suspense in the film. Even though we know what the outcome will be, the movie is great at establishing tension as Eric must think and talk fast to get out of situations or risk having his cover blown.
It is perhaps no surprise that the film's director and co-writer is Billy Ray, who previously directed the criminally under seen
Shattered Glass. That was another film that dealt with hidden truths, people who specialized in deception to cover that truth, and how those lies can slowly destroy a person. Both films center around people who are forced to lie on their job, and how they deal with it. Eric, the main character in
Breach, is a much more sympathetic figure than Stephen Glass (the central figure in Ray's previous directorial effort), but they are not that different at the core. They both go to great lengths in order to keep the truth hidden from the people they are working for, and they are both slowly consumed by the lies that they tell. The difference here is that Eric is lying to protect his country, where as Stephen Glass lied for his own personal fame and glory. The lies that Eric O'Neill tells Hanssen are a necessary evil, but the effect on him is the same as it would be for anyone forced to live a lie both on and off the job. His girlfriend feels as if his job is consuming his life, and Hanssen's icy and sometimes disbelieving stares seem to cut right through him. This creates a strange relationship between the two men where they constantly seem to be struggling for control. They are both struggling not to let their personal secrets be discovered, and they are also both struggling for respect from one another. Eric wants Robert to trust him, while Robert wants Eric to respect him as a senior. The tension between the two builds until it finally explodes in a memorable confrontation late one night in a city park. As the two men yell at each other about trust, we can see in their eyes that they are both hiding the truth from one another. Maybe they both see it as well, but are afraid to admit it.
If
Breach is a film about the journey rather than the destination, than it is the performances that make it a journey worth taking. Chris Cooper has been a long-time favorite of mine, and quite frankly, he's never been as good as he has been here. He finds the right amount of sympathy and cool menace in his portrayal of Robert Hanssen that manages to draw us in. It is a fascinating and complex character, with an equally fascinating and complex performance to go along with it. We can see why Eric would initially doubt that Robert is guilty of any wrong doing, but at the same time, there is a certain something about him that does not seem right, something dangerous yet subtle. I have a strong hunch that this will be one of the great performances of the year, and I can only hope that the narrow minded Oscar voters (who usually can only think as far back as November of the previous year) will give this portrayal the honor that it deserves. Ryan Phillippe does not exactly grab our attention like Cooper does, but he is no less excellent in his own way. He is able to keep up with his co-star's performance every step of the way, and believably portrays a man caught in a situation where he must do wrong in order to do the right thing. Also memorable is Laura Linney as the head of the investigation into Hanssen's actions. Her performance brings an aura of instant authority, and her dry and sarcastic wit makes for some much needed comic relief to help ease the tension of the film itself every once in a while. These are three terrific performances, and they help make
Breach an extremely enjoyable experience to watch.
When Robert Hanssen was finally caught on that Sunday six years ago, he had become the most infamous mole and traitor in US history.
Breach is a fascinating and riveting look into the final days of the man's career. It wisely does not try to explain his actions, or try to make us understand why Hanssen did what he did. It is simply a fascinating look at the man, and the relationship he held with the young Eric O'Neill. This is very tight and suspenseful filmmaking, something you usually don't get to experience around this time of the year. From the performances, to the strong cinematography by Tak Fujimoto, all the way to the subtle yet effective music score by Mychael Danna, the film rarely takes a wrong step and earns your attention almost right from the beginning. What a fascinating and unexpected gem this movie turned out to be.
0 comments
Well here we are, only in February, and we've already got our first strong candidate as one of the great films of 2007. Great movies can sometimes come early in the year (My pick for best film of last year, United 93, came out in April.), but seldom if ever do they hit during the dreary days of February. That's what makes Breach so special. This is such a tight and suspenseful spy drama that it almost seems to be too good for this time of the year. The performances are certainly too good, and that's a real shame, as they most likely will not be recognized at the 2008 Oscars because this movie came out so early. I don't know what Universal is thinking, other than they wanted to relase the movie on the anniverary of the actual event, but I'm glad they're releasing a strong alternative to the junk that usually fills theater screens this time of year.
On Sunday, February 18th, 2001 (exactly six years to this weekend), veteran government agent Robert Hanssen was arrested for selling US secrets to foreign enemies. On the surface, Hanssen was an intelligent and pious man. He was deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, loved his family, and although he was outspoken about what he thought was wrong with the Bureau, he was seen by his fellow agents as a man of great intellect. There was another side to Hanssen, however. The side that willingly sold government secrets, cost the lives of many, and jeopardized his nation for his own financial gain. The film covers the final few months in Hanssen's career. In the film, he is portrayed by Chris Cooper in an Oscar-worthy performance. He has recently been reassigned to a new department, and has been given a young FBI upstart named Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) to work under him. What Hanssen does not know is that Eric has been assigned to monitor him, as the agency has reason to believe that Robert is the mole that has been leaking US Intelligence secrets out. The head of the internal investigation, Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney), does not tell this to Eric at first. Eric initially thinks that he is monitoring Hanssen because he is believed to be a sexual deviant. The two men slowly build a bond, and the more Eric learns about Robert, the harder it is to believe that such a loving family man could be a deviant. When he eventually learns the truth behind the investigation, the situation turns even more difficult for young Eric, as he must not only lie to the man he has come to respect in order to throw suspicion off that he knows the truth of his misdeeds, but he must also lie to his live-in girlfriend back at home (Caroline Dhavernas) in order to protect her.
At its very core, Breach is a simple story elegantly told. This is not a mystery or a who done it, as we already know that Hanssen is the villain from the opening scene. We also know what will happen to him from the beginning, as the film opens with a short archival news footage concerning the official announcement of Hanssen's arrest. It is not the destination that is the focus of Breach, but rather, it is the journey itself. This is a story about two men, and the power struggle that they secretly hold while trying to maintain the image of a working and eventual personal relationship. Robert Hanssen is a man who likes to preach, talk about what's wrong with the Bureau and the world itself, and basically views religion as the most important aspect in a man's life. He enjoys testing people to see if they meet his moral standards, and always seems to be keeping a watchful eye over everyone he comes in contact with. Of course, by the time the film begins, he's been selling secrets for years, and probably has come to learn that it's best not to really trust anyone in his line of work. Eric is a much more fresh-faced and naive young man. He's good at what he does, but he also makes mistakes, or doubts himself. He is stuck in a situation where he is forced to lie to both the man he works for and the woman he loves in order to keep his true mission a secret. This obviously takes a great toll on O'Neill, and we can see it begin to wear on him during the course of the film. It certainly doesn't help that he is working for a man who is considered one of the smartest men in the agency, and is famous for sniffing out people who don't tell the truth. Both men specialize in lying in their jobs, but one of them has been doing it longer than the other, and knows how to draw the truth out of others while hiding his own personal truth from those around him. Eric must find various ways to lead Robert on that he knows nothing about what he's doing in private, and this is what creates the suspense in the film. Even though we know what the outcome will be, the movie is great at establishing tension as Eric must think and talk fast to get out of situations or risk having his cover blown.
It is perhaps no surprise that the film's director and co-writer is Billy Ray, who previously directed the criminally under seen Shattered Glass. That was another film that dealt with hidden truths, people who specialized in deception to cover that truth, and how those lies can slowly destroy a person. Both films center around people who are forced to lie on their job, and how they deal with it. Eric, the main character in Breach, is a much more sympathetic figure than Stephen Glass (the central figure in Ray's previous directorial effort), but they are not that different at the core. They both go to great lengths in order to keep the truth hidden from the people they are working for, and they are both slowly consumed by the lies that they tell. The difference here is that Eric is lying to protect his country, where as Stephen Glass lied for his own personal fame and glory. The lies that Eric O'Neill tells Hanssen are a necessary evil, but the effect on him is the same as it would be for anyone forced to live a lie both on and off the job. His girlfriend feels as if his job is consuming his life, and Hanssen's icy and sometimes disbelieving stares seem to cut right through him. This creates a strange relationship between the two men where they constantly seem to be struggling for control. They are both struggling not to let their personal secrets be discovered, and they are also both struggling for respect from one another. Eric wants Robert to trust him, while Robert wants Eric to respect him as a senior. The tension between the two builds until it finally explodes in a memorable confrontation late one night in a city park. As the two men yell at each other about trust, we can see in their eyes that they are both hiding the truth from one another. Maybe they both see it as well, but are afraid to admit it.
If Breach is a film about the journey rather than the destination, than it is the performances that make it a journey worth taking. Chris Cooper has been a long-time favorite of mine, and quite frankly, he's never been as good as he has been here. He finds the right amount of sympathy and cool menace in his portrayal of Robert Hanssen that manages to draw us in. It is a fascinating and complex character, with an equally fascinating and complex performance to go along with it. We can see why Eric would initially doubt that Robert is guilty of any wrong doing, but at the same time, there is a certain something about him that does not seem right, something dangerous yet subtle. I have a strong hunch that this will be one of the great performances of the year, and I can only hope that the narrow minded Oscar voters (who usually can only think as far back as November of the previous year) will give this portrayal the honor that it deserves. Ryan Phillippe does not exactly grab our attention like Cooper does, but he is no less excellent in his own way. He is able to keep up with his co-star's performance every step of the way, and believably portrays a man caught in a situation where he must do wrong in order to do the right thing. Also memorable is Laura Linney as the head of the investigation into Hanssen's actions. Her performance brings an aura of instant authority, and her dry and sarcastic wit makes for some much needed comic relief to help ease the tension of the film itself every once in a while. These are three terrific performances, and they help make Breach an extremely enjoyable experience to watch.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home