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“I spy with my little eye a pretty good movie”
_ Breach _
Though real life espionage is not as glamorous as a James Bond spy flick it is still just as intriguing when combined with solid writing and adaptation. Most government work is accomplished behind a closed door and rarely on an Alpine ski slope or speed boat in Greece. Therefore you have to develop a story with characters riveting enough to hold our attention. A change from the normal Hollywood onslaught of boobs and bullets. Mission accomplished. Billy Ray directs the new political drama “Breach” starring Chris Cooper, Laura Linney, and Ryan Phillippe in which yesterday’s headline becomes today’s blockbuster.
Breach exposes the two weeks leading up to the arrest of FBI mole, Agent Robert Philip Hanssen (Cooper). Hanssen had been spying for the Soviet Union and then for Russia since the mid 80’s trading his secrets for cash and diamonds. The FBI never had enough evidence to arrest Hanssen so they used one of their own to help bring him down. Eric O’Neill (Phillippe) is an FBI newbie with a desire for an Agent title. When assigned to the case he can’t understand what the FBI could possibly want with Hanssen, until the truth comes out. The FBI has been trying to nail this guy for years and it all rests on the shoulders of O’Neill. Makes me not hate my day job so much.
I respect the fact that even though this film is based on actual events and you know from the start how it ends; the writing and direction make for a twisty thrill ride from the opening credits until the snap of the cuffs. It’s decent story telling which is key. If you read the same facts in a CNN article you will be asleep before the second paragraph. But a clever story teller takes the same event and keeps you in the mix the entire time. Keep in mind that solid writing needs solid acting. Luckily all three leads deliver emotional, straight forward performances. Cooper is always brilliant and this time he blends hard nosed agent with moments of softness that make you second guess the truth of what you already know. We are a week away from handing out Oscars for 06 and I am already thinking of a possible 07 nod for Cooper.
Breach is Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language. None of which is gratuitous or vain repetition. This is elemental movie making in smooth form and all the pieces fit nicely together. There are no smoke and mirrors. Nothing fancy to draw you away from the story. There is confidence in the writing and they allow that to be the foundation for perfect acting performances. There have already been a run of bad films this year and Breach was a nice change of pace and hopefully will set the tone for the rest of this movie year. I spy with my little eye, 4 out of 5 stars. With a look at Breach, I’m Matt Mungle.
The Mungle (matt@mungleshow.com)(02/14/07)
“Matt is a member of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com”
[Edited by Simon - Format]
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1 user commented in " Breach - Movie Review "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI watched the entire Movie on DVD and then formulated an opinion but even from the start this guy seemed to have issues
over a fear of rejection and projected a positive veneer and sense of being superior and flawless.
Without spoiling the movie for others I would like to point out that you need to pay attention to his bitterness for retiring and his loyality to the Nation, I believe the man wanted to be caught by his new assistant or someone because he was about to lose his purpose in life .
Also note how he was caught just weeks after Bush was sworn-in and it was Ashcroft on TV placating the Public over a tragedy that now came to an end under the Bush reign of Power.
Plus the porno flick of him and his wife is assumed to be a twisted act of disrespect for the marriage and his wife , lets not overlook how Hillary Clinton failed to be angry at Bill for his sexcapades in the WhiteHouse which I believe was from a possible secret deal they may have made years ago as part of a charade to further thier Political agenda.
Canada has at least 3 Politicians that divorced or lost a spouse and suddenly became a Homosexual in name only
because they have yet to marry a same-gender spouse to prove it.
Please don’t try to tell me that a man as paranoid or intelligent as him didn’t assume his new office was bugged or being watched, nor do I believe he knew his Clerk went into his office because it appeared like the standard bluff to see if he would lie to get out of it or stay mute to confirm he was caught in the office by some secret detection method.
Over all , it was well done and held my interest as it unfolded like pealing an onion layer by layer but I don’t know why not one person questioned the lack of information on finding the spy selling info to other nations.
If i was a criminal and needed to hide from the Police after a robbery or murder I would quickly do a minor crime to get tossed in a jail cell for several days because the last place they would look for me would be in a Police Station which would also be a minor alibi , and while the Airports, bus station and trains are being check for someone trying to flee the area , I merely sit back and let Barney Fife panic and tell the media the Criminal may have fled the State or is hiding with a friend that doesn’t know what they did.
Maybe his motive was because there was no motive and no “Why?” since he was a bit of a paradox to start with , and maybe he fell on the sword for Bush rather than retire to a hellish life of working with idiots in a mundain world of no challenges or worthy fame .
Leave with a Bang and not a whimper.
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