Breach (* Spoiler Alert - if you haven't seen it, this gives away some parts of the movie.) The preview for the film Breach looked so cool! “Inspired by true events… The most dangerous threat is one of our own!” the announcer exclaims in that oh-so ominous voice as we watch fast-cut clips of what looks like a chilling action film. But watch the movie, and yeah, not so much action. But the film is still based on a really fascinating true story. Breach depicts the take down of the most damaging spy in United States history – Robert Hanssen an FBI agent who single handedly created the most severe security breach ever by selling secrets to Soviet and Russian intelligence for over 22 years! Great story for a film, huh? But unfortunately Breach just seems to fall flat. I think the reason this extraordinary spy story seems so blah isn't because it lacks action, but because we as the audience don’t feel pathos for Robert Hanssen. Academy award winner Chris Cooper (American Beauty, Adaptation) plays the double agent, and honestly, I do think it was great casting. Cooper just screams rogue FBI agent. But unfortunately we just don’t feel for the Hanssen Cooper creates. Yes, Hanssen is the bad guy,
so we are not supposed to root for him per say, but as we watch him spiral deeper and deeper toward his demise we should at least come to a deeper understanding of why. And Cooper actually had a lot to work with - Hanssen in reality is quite a complex, three dimensional character. Aside from being a traitor, Hanssen is a computer genius, he’s extremely religious and moral to a fault, surprisingly also a sexual deviant, and (in the film at least) he takes an unusual interest in his clerk Eric O’Neill played by Ryan Phillippe. But instead of using these characteristics to give Hanssen some depth and vulnerability, Cooper just appears like an uncomplicated, one-dimensional villain. No
ne of Hanssen's weaknesses and faults seem to have any reason behind them accept for evil. Why is he fervently religious yet hypocritically perverted? In Cooper's rendition we don't get to know why, just that he definitely uses his fanaticism to control O'Neill, O'Neill's wife and even his own family. If we knew the reason behind his militant devotion, or at least saw a glimmer of his reason d'être, then we might be able to feel some empathy or sympathy for him - some pathos - as he's carted away to prison. Towards the end of the film there is a scene where Cooper is crying in a confessional, but too little too late I fear. What would have been a moving moment had the character showed some humanity previously in the film is just uncomfortable, unemotional and unpleasant.
Now check out the poll to the right to cast your vote for Chris Cooper in Breach!
For more info on Elisa Eliot and Elisa Eliot's Acting Studio please visit www.elisaeliot.com.
so we are not supposed to root for him per say, but as we watch him spiral deeper and deeper toward his demise we should at least come to a deeper understanding of why. And Cooper actually had a lot to work with - Hanssen in reality is quite a complex, three dimensional character. Aside from being a traitor, Hanssen is a computer genius, he’s extremely religious and moral to a fault, surprisingly also a sexual deviant, and (in the film at least) he takes an unusual interest in his clerk Eric O’Neill played by Ryan Phillippe. But instead of using these characteristics to give Hanssen some depth and vulnerability, Cooper just appears like an uncomplicated, one-dimensional villain. No
ne of Hanssen's weaknesses and faults seem to have any reason behind them accept for evil. Why is he fervently religious yet hypocritically perverted? In Cooper's rendition we don't get to know why, just that he definitely uses his fanaticism to control O'Neill, O'Neill's wife and even his own family. If we knew the reason behind his militant devotion, or at least saw a glimmer of his reason d'être, then we might be able to feel some empathy or sympathy for him - some pathos - as he's carted away to prison. Towards the end of the film there is a scene where Cooper is crying in a confessional, but too little too late I fear. What would have been a moving moment had the character showed some humanity previously in the film is just uncomfortable, unemotional and unpleasant.Now check out the poll to the right to cast your vote for Chris Cooper in Breach!
For more info on Elisa Eliot and Elisa Eliot's Acting Studio please visit www.elisaeliot.com.
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