Review of Breach (2007) by Arman N — 02 Nov 2008

Initial Score: 8.1.

-4 Years after his directorial debut Billy Ray follows up with Breach showcasing he fares far better as a director then a screenwriter even with the added challenge of doing the true story justice. To say this well tempered thriller succeeds due to Chris Cooper delivering the performance of his life is an understatement, the role was tailor made for him and for 2 hours we're graced with watching him walk in his comfortable loafers.

-The first time I saw breach I was a passive watcher not trying to really absorb what was going on fortunately a second viewing gave me a clearer perspective of how well the film uses it's star power. The scene where Cooper and Phillippe meet for the first time is my favorite, it's here where Cooper sizes up his clerk who says "I'm not very good at bluffs" to which Cooper replies "That would count as your lie and if I catch you in my office again you'll be pissing purple for a week". This sharply funny scene perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the movie and so much is communicated in so few words I loved it.

-The cold and intelligent Cooper slowly but surely begins to warm up to his clerk who in turn starts doubting the maliciousness of a man who's life revolves around religion and his work. When Laura Linney reveals him for the traitor he is Phillippe's resolve is strengthened but there is a lingering respect for his boss which disrupts things with his wife played by the unknown Caroline Dhavernas. Which brings me to my gripe with an otherwise film, she should take some speech lessons from Guy Pearce and Russel Crow because several times she broke accent and it really took me out of the experience.

-On a related note she got a little bit too much camera time as she did not really do anything for the movie she was just there as a requisite to the true story. That's just me nitpicking my real complaint here is it isn't as tense or suspenseful as it could have been. Breach is a good example of how a payoff no matter how big means nothing if ou don't have a proper buildup slow burns can be great but here it's like watching embers peter out. This lack of consistent tension mars the film by detracting from the weight of it's significance and made the film overall not as exciting as it sounds on paper.

-The film hits it's peak and maintains it throughout as the seed of paranoia grows slowly but steadily in Cooper's mind and there's a real transformation from someone who was always 2 steps ahead of everyone else has become easy to manipulate and ignorant of what's going on around him. This leads to the scene where Phillippe deftly puts his acting chops to the test and fast talks Cooper back into the car buying the search team some more time to...well search.

-Culminating in a psychological breakdown Cooper finally lets his guard down revealing how conflicted he is and you can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the country's greatest traitor knowing what's ahead of him. By the time he's caught in the act he regains his distant exterior and with one line he brings his brilliant performance to it's end, reminding us his performance deserves a better stage.

Repeat Viewing Score: 8.1.