Review of Breach (2007) by Janni M — 17 May 2009

In preparation for seeing Breach, I did a little research on it's subject, namely Robert Hanssen. Having seen the film, I must say how absolutely amazed I am at the level of authenticity in it. The attention to detail is almost unheard of in a contemporary movie.

Whoever decided to bring the real Eric O'Neill into the production probably saved it from interminable mediocrity. I was equally impressed by all of the performances, especially Cooper's. How he didn't wrangle an Oscar out of his work here is beyond me.

Apart from the praise, I have to detract somewhat from a perfect score because I felt that too much emphasis was put on the character drama and the last few months of Hanssen's treachery as opposed to the details of the quarter-century-long conspiracy as a whole.

25 years condensed into 2 hours? Oy. I suppose they did what they could. Still, what is shown is spectacular.