Breach -- May 2007

I SPY

In Luke 18:9-13, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” 

Jesus’ portrait of the Pharisee could describe infamous American spy Robert Hanssen almost to a T. Outwardly Hanssen appears to be the complete man of God: he prays visibly and says things calculated to convince others he’s a kind super-patriot who always has the best interests of America at heart. Inwardly Hanssen is rotten, one of the most notorious spies in U.S. history. His capture by the FBI in 2001 is chronicled in Breach, a fascinating and excruciatingly tense picture that’s well worth your dollar.

Here’s the gist of the movie: Young FBI inductee Eric O’Neill is a rather cocky young go-getter who’s dying to be promoted to the rank of agent. His boss, Kate Burroughs, knows this and assigns him to be Robert Hanssen’s new assistant, with the special charge to watch Hanssen with an eagle eye in order to catch him “making a drop” for the Russians. He must win Hanssen’s confidence and allay his suspicions, no mean task since Hanssen is the consummate spy who misses almost nothing. It’s no secret that O’Neill succeeds in his quest; the film opens with a clip of Attorney General John Ashcroft announcing Hanssen’s capture shortly after the inauguration of President George W. Bush. Nonetheless, Breach is a nail-biter, perhaps all the more powerful because we know the outcome.

Veteran character actor Chris Cooper is a standout as Hanssen, and Ryan Philippe and Laura Linney perform the roles of O’Neill and Burroughs with skill. The picture is just long enough to hold our attention completely while taking us on a roller coaster ride. Most importantly, Breach asks a number of compelling questions: Who are the people who are charged with protecting us from foreign threats? Are they to be trusted? Are people what they appear to be on the surface? Most significantly, who is really following the Lord? One of the most touching scenes in the film occurs when O’Neill sees the handcuffed Hanssen in an elevator, and Hanssen implores O’Neill to “Pray for me.” Hanssen, like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, is not cynical but seems to believe he has done the right thing.

Caution: Breach is rated PG-13; it’s not for children or younger teenagers. There are a number of profanities and misuses of the Lord’s name, along with suggestions of sexual deviancy on the part of Hanssen. If you can get past those elements, you’re in for an exciting ride.

My Rating: 3 ¼ stars.