Breach: As fun as it sounds
Cooper’s beady eyes overshadow Phillipe’s pretty mouth
NICK MACMAHON
COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES.
Chris Cooper, formerly recognized as “that creepy guy in (insert film),” is deservingly at the helm in his latest film, Breach. Cooper has frequently garnered critical acclaim, namely by winning an Oscar and Golden Globe for his work in Adaptation. Breach could prove to be his transitory role into the big leagues, much like Paul Giamatti’s Sideways.
v The film opens with actual footage of John Ashcroft, former U.S. attorney general, announcing the 2001 arrest of Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper), an FBI agent who
Directed by Billy Ray
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sold secrets to the Russians for 15 years, earning the title of either “Worst Spy in American History” or “Most Valuable Spy,” depending on which way you slice the cake. The film cuts to a few shots of troubled Hanssen praying intently in mass: an example of Hollywood’s unflagging attempt to demonize the Catholic Church, which becomes a focal point of the film.
We are quickly introduced to Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phllippe), a young FBI worker who takes on the challenge of working as Hanssen’s assistant in hopes of a promotion to FBI agent-status by his boss, Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney). Hanssen is working his new job as the head of “information assurance” — designed to protect classified FBI information, which Hanssen sells to his Russian friends to help pay off his hydro bill. Burroughs and her team are aware of Hanssen’s activity, so they call upon Super Eric to find enough evidence to help set him up and take him down.
The film’s minimal colour contrast in the costumes/settings and overall orderliness creates a cold spy movie feel, much like Enemy of the State, but not as bleak as Traffic. It is like a mirror of Hanssen’s life — we see him as a well-kempt man who attends mass every morning and adheres to strict conservative values. This leaves the audience perturbed, especially when Burroughs reveals to O’Neill that Hanssen is a sexual deviant, a murderer, etc.. This just adds to the audience’s fear of Hanssen, which is easy for Cooper to pull off with his unquestionable talent and those suspicious, beady eyes. Like Giamatti, Cooper is an actor who has to rely almost solely on his acting talents to get ahead in this vicious industry. Yes, the Malkovichs of Hollywood are often type-cast solely due to their homely features, yet it appears that the best actors in this business are those who must prove themselves on both levels.
Phillippe, on the other hand, is not strong enough as a lead. There was significant pressure to follow up his role as an innocent cop forced to confront racism in Crash. He fails to exude confidence with this new role, which really requires it. Would the FBI hire an unassertive emo teenager? In his best moments, he comes across as a spoiled teen, cursing at mother for burning his toast.
Linney attempts the tough-as-nails boss role and succeeds, though director Billy Ray must have forgotten that these roles are reserved for TV crime dramas and Jerry Bruckheimer films.
The film ends with a drab climax and loose ends untied, such as Hanssen’s motives. What secrets was he selling to the Russians anyway? Like the purpose of this film, they remain classified.
