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Printer-Friendly ModeBreach a success as Cooper shines in rare lead role
February 19, 2007 —
It takes a skilled craftsman to create a captivating two-hour film when the ending is already widely known.
Director Billy Ray pulls off the feat with Breach, the second film telling of former FBI agent Robert Hannsen, who was ousted as a Russian spy in Feb. 2001.
Several things could be attributed to the quality of the finished product, but realistically, its success hinges on the performance of Chris Cooper (American Beauty), who portrays Hannsen.
Traditionally a stellar supporting player, Cooper exudes leading man traits here, raising the question of why he has been relegated to secondary parts for the majority of his career.
Ryan Phillippe complements Cooper as Eric O'Neill, a young member of the Bureau assigned to keep watch over Hannsen under the guise of a clerk.
O'Neill is initially told allegations of Hannsen being a sexual deviant have resulted in the assignment, but is quick to suspect more lies beneath the surface of the case after spending time with what seems to be a devout religious family man.
The allegations turn out to be factual, but become minute when O'Neill is let in on the real purpose of the case: Hannsen has been selling classified information to the Russians for the better part of two decades.
One can only speculate how another actor would have fared in the lead role, but it's tough to imagine anyone trumping Cooper's performance.
His naturally stern demeanor, - a characteristic that could be cited for his lack of leading roles - makes him a perfect fit for Hannsen, who was a serious, deeply religious man.
Perhaps Cooper's greatest achievement in the film is taking the man behind what has been labeled the most devastating security breach in U.S. history and making him not only sympathetic, but human.
Our last glimpse of a slumped, defeated Hannsen is probably more touching than it has any right to be.
Not nearly on Cooper's level, Phillippe fills the role nicely, never seeming out of place with his leading counterpart.
The foundation of the duo's bond is set while O'Neill witnesses firsthand the misuse of Hannsen's abilities by the Bureau, a situation he has found himself in.
Their relationship evolves until Hannsen views his partner as the only person he can trust, a trust O'Neill ironically must breach to make the case a success.
Breach serves as Ray's follow-up to his 2003 film, Shattered Glass, another real-life story where the conclusion was common knowledge beforehand.
In cases like this, there is a greater need for the events that lead up to the finish to be gripping, something both films succeed in doing.
Despite being an espionage piece, Breach manages to create strands of suspenseful sequences without a single car chase, explosion, or fight.
This may spell boredom for some viewers, but there is something to be said for a film that can generate this much suspense with such a minimalist approach.
The film is not overly concerned about the reasons behind Hannsen's actions.
The obvious factor of money along with a twisted sense of patriotism and embitterment towards the FBI are suggested, but ultimately, the end result remains the same.
Hannsen compromised numerous lives through his sales to the Russians, a fact that makes any motive irrelevant and inexcusable.
Yet, when we see him for the final time as the elevator doors close and shield his somber face, part of us almost wishes that wasn't true.