Breach (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Billy Ray

Writers (WGA):

Adam Mazer (screenplay) &
William Rotko (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Inspired by the true story of the greatest security breach in U.S. history

Plot:

Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Video Footage | Betrayal | Church | Husband Wife Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18

12:00 AM

USA

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Robert Hanssen
Ryan Phillippe	...	Eric O'Neill
Laura Linney	...	Kate Burroughs
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Juliana O'Neill
Gary Cole	...	Rich Garces
Dennis Haysbert	...	Dean Plesac
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Bonnie Hanssen
Bruce Davison	...	John O'Neill
Jonathan Watton	...	Geddes
Tom Barnett	...	Jim Olsen
Jonathan Potts	...	D.I.A. Suit
David Huband	...	Photographer
Catherine Burdon	...	Agent Nece
Scott Gibson	...	Agent Sherin
Courtenay J. Stevens	...	Agent Loper (as Courtenay Stevens)

Also Known As:

Hanssen (USA) (working title)
The 11th Hour (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43010) | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:11 | Sweden:7 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Denmark:7 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 | France:Unrated | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Virginia, USA

Company:

Double Agent Productions Inc.

Trivia:

In the hallway, we constantly see a poster with names and pictures of spies that have been caught, as well as short narratives of what their crimes were and how much time they're serving. These posters really exist in secure government facilities, and prominently displayed on all of them, since the events of this movie took place, is a photo of Robert Hanssen.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The producers thank "Fairway County, VA" for the use of the park where the drop is made. The park is in Fairfax County, VA.

Quotes:

Robert Hanssen: [voiceover] Eventually I would appreciate an escape plan. Nothing lasts forever.

Movie Connections:

Features Entrapment (1999)

Soundtrack:

Near You

Loved it, but O'Neill wasn't an FBI Special Agent

I keep reading comments referring to O'Neill as an FBI Agent. Eric O'Neill was never an FBI Agent, but rather just a support employee. That's part of what makes this movie so exciting with an almost "David and Goliath" quality. O'Neill was thrust into one of the most important cases in FBI history with virtually no undercover experience. His ability to hang in there and keep his cool in the midst of that stress and strain was simply amazing and he deserves a lot of credit.

This movie was a very accurate portrayal of the FBI culture and the events which took place regarding the investigation and arrest of Robert Hanssen. They even got the look of the HQ interior down pat.

There are a few *very* minor inaccuracies.

1) The FBI does not have mailboxes outside their office doors. 2) The real parking garage is a lot shabbier looking than the one in the movie. 3) There is no policy against FBI Agents drinking in their personal lives. 4) There is no "25 Year" wall. 5) Dennis Haysbert's character of Dan Plesac was introduced as "FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge" as if it were a big deal. It's not. An ASAC is one step above a Supervisor. Now, if he'd been introduced as "FBI Assistant Director" that would have been a much higher status position.

But everything else in the movie was amazingly accurate. As usual, do not rely on Wikipedia for your facts. I read it and there are some blatant mistakes in there.

Overall, I loved the movie. Very well-paced, well-written, well-acted, intense and riveting.