Breach (2007)

Happening shortly after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, and inspired by the true story of the greatest security breach in U.S. history," this film will leave you wondering how something like this happened.

Billy Ray (Shattered Glass) directs this compelling tale of one of the darkest events in the US intelligence circles. Ryan Phillipe (Crash, Gosford Park) stars as Eric O'Neill, a relative newbie in the FBI who is gunning for a chance to make Agent. After months of watching, following, watching, following... his opportunity comes up when Agent Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney, Mysic River, The Life of David Gale) approaches him with a case of utmost importance. Now he finds himself under the employ of FBI Intelligence genius Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper, The Kingdom, THe Patriot), a man he idolizes and has much respect for. Initially brought in under the preconception that Hanssen is a sexual deviant and possiblt involved in an international sex ring, Eric soon realizes there must be much more to this if the Bureau is so hush-hush and secretive about what's going on in Hanssen's day to day. The FBI's top intelligence man has vaulted himself to the top by being just that, and sharing his knowledge with a cold-war foe. It's just up to Eric O'Neill to reel him in and destroy a man who has spent his lifetime in service to his country... er, another country.

I picked this movie up after looking through a friend's movie collection and seeing it... I asked about it since I had never heard of it. They said it was good... and they were not wrong. I honestly don't even remember the press about this story, probably still too much overkill for 9/11, but wow. A great re-telling of an actual event with really superb acting. Ryan Philippe always does a heck of a job, definitely one of the better young actors floating around... a shame we don't see him more often. If you're one of those CSI or Law & Order watchers, this will be a sure hit.

8.0/10

Rated: PG-13
110 mins