Breach (2007)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breach is a historical and biographical drama which premiered in 2007.

 

It is the story of Robert Hanssen – an FBI officer who was first a Soviet and later a Russian spy for more than 20 years – and how he was finally caught in 2001.

 

Here is some basic information about this drama:

 

** Director: Billy Ray

** Writers: Billy Ray, Adam Mazer and William Rotko

** Released on DVD in 2008

** Run time: 101 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

** Chris Cooper as Robert Hanssen (1944-2023) – FBI

** Kathleen Quinlan as Bernadette “Bonnie” Hanssen – Robert’s wife

** Ryan Phillippe as Eric O’Neill (born 1973) – FBI

** Caroline Dhauernas as Juliana O’Neill – Eric’s wife

** Laura Linney as Katherine “Kate” Burroughs – FBI

** Gary Cole as Richard “Rich” Garces – FBI

 

In the opening scene, which is set in February 2001, we learn that the US government has arrested a spy who was responsible for the biggest breach of intelligence in US history. Hence the title of the drama.

 

Next, we go back in time; back to something that happened ca two months before the arrest was announced. And now the story of Hanssen’s final days at the FBI can begin.

 

In other words: when the story begins, we already know how it is going to end. Can this work? Can the story really keep us hanging on for 101 minutes, when we already know how it is going to end?

 

If you ask me, the answer is yes. Because we want to know how it was done; we want to find out how it happened.

 

Eric O’Neill - a young man, who worked for the FBI - was assigned to be Hanssen’s assistant. His task was to watch Hanssen, to follow him around and to report to his superior.

 

Eric O’Neill served as a consultant on this drama. He was able to tell the director and the writers exactly what had happened during the two months which are covered in this drama.

 

He is the author of a book about the case and his own role in exposing Hanssen as a spy.

 

What do reviewers say about this historical drama? 

 

Here are some results:

 

** 70 per cent = IMDb

** 74 per cent = Meta

** 67 per cent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)

** 84 per cent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)

 

I think the first two ratings are too low. When you look at Rotten Tomatoes, you can see that there is a big gap between the general audience and the professional critics.

 

In this case, I have to go with the critics, because I like this drama. But I cannot go all the way to the top. Why not? This drama is good, but not great. There are some flaws here and there:

 

(1) Some scenes are invented.

(2) Some details, which never happened, are added.

(3) One character (Richard “Rich” Garces) is miscast.

 

In other words: historical truth is violated in several cases, even though there was no need for this. The true story is quite dramatic in itself. In addition, it has one important advantage: it is the truth.

 

[How accurate is this historical drama? For more details about this question, visit the website Chasing the Frog.]

 

As you can see, there are some flaws which cannot be ignored. I have to remove one star because of them.

 

This is why I think this drama deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent).

 

PS # 1. When you are a spy, you must be careful. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that Hanssen was often careless.

 

During more than 20 years as a spy, he took risks and made mistakes. But for many years, he was incredibly lucky. No action was taken against him.

 

PS # 2. Robert Hanssen was tried in a court of law and found guilty. He was serving 15 consecutive life sentences, without the possibility of parole, in a federal prison. He died in prison in June 2023.

 

PS # 3. The story of Robert Hanssen and his time at the FBI is covered in the historical drama Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story which premiered in 2002. This item is available on YouTube.

 

PS # 4. The story of Robert Hanssen and the FBI can be compared with the story of Aldrich Ames and the CIA. Ames was arrested in 1994 and charged with treason. 

 

He was tried in a court of law and found guilty. He is currently serving a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, in a federal prison.

 

PS # 5. Billy Ray is the director of the historical and biographical drama Shattered Glass which premiered in 2003.

 

REFERENCES

 

Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI’s

Robert Hanssen Betrayed America

by David Wise

(Hardcover 2002)

(Paperback 2003)

The author = David Wise (1930-2018)

 

The Bureau and the Mole: 

The Unmasking of Robert Philip Hanssen, 

the Most Dangerous Double Agent in FBI History

By David A. Vise

(Hardcover 2002)

The author = David A. Vise (born 1960)

 

Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to

Expose America’s First Cyber Spy

By Eric O’Neill

(Hardcover 2019)

(Paperback 2020)

The author = Eric O’Neill (born 1973)

 

A Spy in Plain Sight:

The Inside Story of the FBI and Robert Hanssen – America’s Most Damaging Russian Spy

By Lis Wiehl

(Hardcover 2022)

(Paperback 2023)

The author = Lis Wiehl (born 1961)

 

*****

The FBI officer who spied for

the Soviet Union and Russia

Robert Hanssen

(1944-2023)

*****