1. Lopez17

   10

   On February18,2001 Attorney General John Ashcroft made a public televised announcement that one of the FBI's highest ranking agents Robert Hanssen had been charged with selling American secrets to Russia for more than US$1.4 million in cash and diamonds over a 22-year period. On 6 July 2001, he pleaded guilty to fifteen counts of espionage. He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His activities have been described as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history." Billy Ray’s “Breach" tells the events leading up to the capture of Robert Hanssen and how one lone rookie took down one of the most infamous traitors in American history. Billy Ray's film is a masterful execution of design and brilliant execution that ask one of the most dangerous questions, in a world where you have to lie to survive and the truth is lethal how can you trust those you know with he truth? Billy Ray's "Breach" is a film that works beyond the normal conventional trappings of other espionage thrillers it works like spy thrillers use to work before big explosive actions sequences, beautiful women, and mindless plot devices overrode ingenious plots twists, sharp writing, broad and haunted characters and compelling stories. "Breach" is a throw back to the brilliance of Cold War spy thrillers with a modern twist attached to it what makes this film work is not the story or the powerful intrigue, no. What drives this film what makes it work is the dark, complex interplay between the characters how they lie and manipulate one another for there own needs, Billy Ray crafts one of the most intricate and well rounded story of espionage, double dealings, treachery and deception. It is a story of how sometimes the ones you trust the most are the ones with the most secrets. "Breach" is a film that not only works on your senses it pulls you into a world, into a story that you could never have thought possible or even imagine was real it's a film so brilliant, so powerful that the minute it's over you'll want to see it again. This film is not a story about espionage or intrigue it is a story about people, real people and the choices they make the choices that affect the people around them, the people they love. That to me expresses more of the story's power than the films actual investigation into Robert Hanssen. Ray focuses more on how this investigation affected O'Neill and his wife more than how it all affected Hanssen, you know it doesn't bother Hanssen what he's doing or what he is about to do. We see he has no remorse for what he did or the lives he cost. It is how O'Neill works this story, how he is affected mentally and emotionally by the events that are transpiring. "Breach" is beyond a thriller it is almost like watching real events unfolding in front of you on screen. Billy Ray has transcended the original story and put to paper and then to the screen a story that seems to terrifying to believe "Breach" works on every level as a spy thriller, a character study and a cautionary tale. It is a flawless movie of perfect design and execution; it works like a nasty little machine toying with you every step of the way while you try to put the pieces together in the end. Billy Ray does not only use every feeling and emotion a human has he uses it to it’s full extent spreading it out like butter on a piece of toast, this film does not only work as a morality play, a story so refined and perfected that it transcends normal cinema and enters the realm of modern film classics… Expand

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2. JoyceC.

   5

   Breach was suppose to be a gripping and heartwarming film like The Shawshank, but on the other hand, Billy Ray captures nobody in the audience from what I saw. Everyone was just cracking their heads, or slowly yawning, and most of the time people kept on looking at their cell phones to see what time it was. I was extremely anxious fro this film to be over with. Since the trailer looked so amazing and definitely a film to go see. I couldn't wait to see it. At first you really enjoy the script and the storyline as it impatiently moves along. And then you read all these wonderful reviews commented how good Chris Cooper did, which he did all right in his easy role. The first time you see it, you must see it in the theatres and that's when you'll say it was a great movie. Then I couldn't wait for it to come out, because its one of those films that at first you think its okay. But then you read all these dazzling reviews with a metascore of 74, then after a couple of weeks, you start agreeing with the critics. That's when you can't wait for it to come out. But when it came out, I gathered all the family members for a movie night to watch Breach. because at that time I thought it was brilliantly breathtaking. After the film starts, your smile turns into a yawn and all those wonderful actors playing in the film just threw their faces in a toilet and flushed it away. It was weak. The best and only part was when Eric didn't know which pocket his thingamabob went in. That was pretty thrilling. But the film just didn't capture me. The movie makes you so anxious for it to end and when it finally does, you'd rate it a high six or a low seven. But after I started reading some reviews again after a week, I thought of it differently. I thought it was a really good movie. The reason why I rated it a 5 is because I thought back of how weak and dull the film was, I just said you know what, I'm gonna give it a 5 and be done with it because when you read the reviews, you think its good, but when you watch it, its really unentertaining. I prayed for something to happen the first time I watched it but what I think was that Billy Ray was loosing time so he just quickly got it over with and arrested the damn boss. Just watch it once and never again.… Expand

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3. MarkM.

   3

   Chris Cooper is wasted in this movie, a fascinating real-life tale which relegates his character, Hansen, the FBI traitor, to a supporting role. The wooden Ryan Phillipe, a fresh-faced pretty boy protagonist, just doesn't have the chops to sell his role as a wannabe FBI agent. Equally awful is the (usually good) Laura Linney, who substitutes clipped speech and salty jargon in lieu of projecting any real authority. These two are miscast, but in many ways the real problem is script. The plotting fails to make anything of Hansen's actual breach, telling but not showing anything of it.… Expand

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