An espionage thriller which focuses on strong character development, performances and setting, Breach is the true story of Robert Hanson (Chris Cooper), an FBI Agent turned traitor who committed the worst breach in U.S. history. Ryan Phillipe co-stars as Eric O'Neil, an FBI operative who - is his determination to become an agent - agrees to spy on Hanson whilst posing as his assistant. Through their Catholic faith, Hanson and O'Neil forge a strong bond, which slowly breaks when O'Neil - who was informed by his superior (an underused Laura Linney) that his assignment was to survey Hanson's known sexual habits - finds out that Hanson has in fact been a traitor for years, selling secrets to the former Soviet Union (and current Russia) which has cost the U.S. Government billions of dollars and numerous lives.
The film begins as a placid character piece, setting up Hanson's and O'Neil's motives and relationship. Hanson comes across as an innocent enough man of strict conservative values. He takes his work seriously, attends church on an ultra regular basis, and takes pride in his loving family. The viewer shares O'Neil's confusion as to why he has been assigned to spy on him. But as Hanson's true personality comes to the forefront, the film turns into a thrilling watch with co-writer and director Billy Ray cranking up the tension at the right moments.
Tak Fujimoto's crisp cinematography -which magnificently captures the films winter chill setting - helps set the mood as a taught spy thriller which relies on story and not action set pieces.
Set before 9/11 (just as President Bush came into power), the film also takes a look at the failure of U.S. intelligences to share information between one another, which will cost them in the not to distant future.
The film reminds somewhat of Mike Newell's gangster classic Donnie Brasco, with Ryan Phillipe (in a solid performance) as the spy who becomes enchanted by his target, and then feels remorseful for having to turn him in.
As Hanson, Chris Cooper puts on a great performance. How could he not with such an unusual character? An intelligent, slightly paranoid and cunning man, Hanson's hard demeanour is offset by his strong faith in the Opus Dei Catholic religion and the love of his family. But underneath his temperamental and banal exterior lies a deceitful and perverted soul full of secrets and remorse.
Cooper plays the part very well, portraying Hanson as an equally sympathetic yet slimy character who has the weight of his conscious hovering over him.
A big problem with Breach lies within how Billy Ray implemented and exploited Hanson's religious beliefs. Now, Hollywood is known to take dramatic license with many films based on a "true story", and so it goes with here.
It makes many ill informed assumptions about Catholicism. Scenes where Robert Hanson and his wife constantly push their faith upon Eric and his wife (Sunday mass and lunch, Hanson and his wife inviting themselves to dinner) did not happen. Yet, these scenes were created and placed in the film. And for what reason? To vilify the Catholic faith? To present the Hanson's as your typical nosy, overbearing, morally sound Catholic family out to save the souls of the fallen?
Why such a strong focus on the man's religion? What did it have to do with his crimes of treason? And why did such liberties with the Hanson's Catholic faith go unnoticed by the critics?
His faith was a big part of his life, but it did not have a thing to do with his actions as a traitor. Granted it makes great character fodder, the devout Catholic who sold secrets to the "Godless" Soviets. Yet in the context with which it was presented it comes off -coming from a Catholic - as a tad suspect, and at times insulting.
Numerous other aspects of his life - such as his friendship with a German man with whom he swapped amateur porn - is cast to the side for the filmmakers to take certain liberties with his religion, presenting him and his wife as overbearing Christian figures, pushing their values upon others.
Not all Catholics are bible bashing moralists. And considering that none of the before mentioned religious conversations and attempted conversions happened in real life, it proves the point that in order to vilify the man, the filmmakers decided to vilify the religion as well.
Being a traitor should be enough villainous fodder to play with. I guess it wasn't enough for Billy Ray and co., who pushed the Catholic angle a little too much for my taste.