Breach

Name: Breach
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: February 16, 2007
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Chris Cooper, Dennis Haysbert, Ryan Phillippe

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 80 Ratings

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Breach

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: February 16, 2007 | PG-13

Starring: Chris Cooper, Dennis Haysbert, Ryan Phillippe

Summary: Inspired by true events, Breach is a dramatic thriller set inside the halls of the FBI -- the gatekeeper of the nation's most sensitive and potentially volatile secrets. Following his success with the electrifying and acclaimed "Shattered Glass," co-writer/director Billy Ray explores more deeply the disillusionment and questionable moralInspired by true events, Breach is a dramatic thriller set inside the halls of the FBI -- the gatekeeper of the nation's most sensitive and potentially volatile secrets. Following his success with the electrifying and acclaimed "Shattered Glass," co-writer/director Billy Ray explores more deeply the disillusionment and questionable moral mentorship of a young idealist. [Universal Pictures]… Expand

Director: Billy Ray

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 min

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Critic Reviews

Stephen Hunter

The acting is superb, particularly from the three principals. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Without Cooper's performance, Breach would have been a good, workmanlike thriller. His presence lifts it to a whole new level. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

The movie is serious, intelligent, intentionally claustrophobic and awfully somber -- you remember it in black and white, though it was shot (by the masterful Tak Fujimoto) in color. But you'll remember Mr. Cooper's performance for exactly what it is, an uncompromising study in the gradual decay of a soul.

Premiere Glenn Kenny

The procedural aspects of the story are briskly done, and Chris Cooper's portrayal of the traitor Hanssen is a typically Cooperesque marvel. Read full review

William Arnold

The flaw in the movie is that it can't give a plausible reason WHY this patriotic Catholic family man turned traitor, and the script annoyingly addresses this lack several times by saying, "The why doesn't matter." Actually, it does. We want some reason. Read full review

David Edelstein

Cooper's performance is outlandishly great, but Phillippe’s knocks Breach down a peg. Read full review

David Denby

The unexciting look and feel of the movie wouldn’t have bothered me if the filmmakers had penetrated Hanssen’s skull a little. Read full review

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User Reviews

Lopez17

Aug 11, 2010

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 6On 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 Rayâ… Expand

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CharlieC.

Feb 17, 2007

Tight, gripping FBI vs spy. It might seem a little slow in places, but give it patience. After all, it took years to catch the culprit and much of the time was spent with watching and waiting in suspense. Excellent performances throughout. You won't be disapointed!

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geewah

Jan 29, 2021

One of 2007's most underrated movies.
A fantastic political thriller that builds character development as a key component to it's suspense.
Chris Cooper is fantastic in the lead role.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PaulK.

Feb 19, 2007

Chris Cooper rocks this out. If you have an interest, defnitely catch it at some point.

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Colin

Feb 18, 2007

It was decent, not great. to the person below complaining about seeing the boom in various shots, that was an issue with your movie theater, not the film. almost all films have shots with visible microphones, but theaters are supposed to place a mask on the projector to crop the image. next It was decent, not great. to the person below complaining about seeing the boom in various shots, that was an issue with your movie theater, not the film. almost all films have shots with visible microphones, but theaters are supposed to place a mask on the projector to crop the image. next time you see that, i suggest you complain to the theater manager, not the filmmakers… Expand

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ReidFishman

Feb 24, 2007

A decent psychological spy film that suffers from slow pacing.

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RodneyM.

Mar 23, 2007

This movie almost made me sleep. The only "exciting" part was when the main character put the pda in the wrong pocket. Half the info about the case is still classified and they tried to make a movie about it?! I give it a 2, just because they tried, and it could've been better.

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