Synopsis for
Breach (2007) More at IMDbPro »

(this first appeared on realmoviereview.com ) The true story of the investigation that brought down the most damaging spy in U.S. history manages to make a pretty compelling film, thanks to a well-written character, and a magnificent performance by Chris Cooper as the turncoat. Ryan Phillippe, as the undercover man, and Laura Linney as his boss, put in solid efforts, as well, but their roles dont leave as much meat to get off the bone, so this really is the Chris Cooper show.

Ryan Phillippe is Eric ONeill, an FBI employee assigned to go undercover right in the Bureau offices to gather evidence on Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). Hanssen is a long time FBI agent selling information to the Russians, and the FBI is on to him, but need more information to make an arrest. This forms the basis of a tense cat and mouse game between the two men. As ONeill gets to know Hanssen, we see more and more of his character.

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"Breach" is based on the true story of former 25 year veteran FBI Intelligence agent Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper). In December 2000, Hanssen, one of the best Intelligence agents at the FBI, was reassigned to the Washington D.C. FBI Headquarters to head up a new division to protect all the FBI's classified information. Eric O'Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is a young surveillance and computer specialist who hopes to become an FBI field agent one day. Eric is recruited to his dream job in Intelligence at FBI headquarters to clerk for Robert Hanssen. Eric soon finds out why he was really assigned to work for Hanssen. Hanssen is suspected of being a traitor and selling American secrets to the Soviet Union for years. Eric must discover Hanssen's secrets and bring them to the light of day, before more damage is done to the security of the United States. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)