by Isabella Jordan Directed by Billy Ray. Starring Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavernas, Gary Cole, and more. Yes, I actually watch movies for adults too. Go figure. =) Breach was released earlier this year in theaters to very little fanfare. The story of Richard Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union? Most thought they'd pass and wait for the DVD or cable release. Just another docudrama, right? Wrong. Breach is based on the true story of Richard Hanssen and while a small number of events were added or altered for dramatic event, all I have to say after watching it twice is Wow! Ryan Phillippe, as FBI newbie Eric O'Neill, is brought on and assigned to Hanssen, told that his new "boss" is a potential sexual deviant. He will learn that he is merely a pawn in the game to catch a criminal mastermind. There's little point in going into detail about the plot when it's based on historical fact. There's a lot to say about this film depiction, however, and all of it is favorable.

Chris Cooper was chilling and all too real as Richard Hanssen. I've liked this actor since I first saw him in A Time to Kill and with each role he takes on, I'm more impressed. As the manipulative and brilliant Hanssen, he's created a character that is impossible to forget. Everything about his performance is convincing and leaves you with that "skin-crawl" feeling. Dead on, brilliant performance.

Ryan Phillipe is wonderful as Eric O'Neill, a man who really thinks he wants to be an FBI agent and finds that sometimes what you want isn't what you believed it to be. He portrayed his ambitious young character in a way that made him very sympathetic and puts the viewer immediately on his side as he struggles with the senior agent who is clearly his intellectual superior.

There were some great supporting characters played by Laura Linney as O'Neill's supervisor and Gary Cole as the understated but effective Rich Garces. The casting in this movie made it a delight to watch.

The pacing was everything you could ever want in a taut thriller. It speeds up your heart rate along with the storyline when it's supposed to but without moving so fast you lose the plot. Just right.

This is a must see no matter what venue. It's rated PG-13 but it's not suited for a younger audience because of violence, sexual content, and language. This is the most fun you've ever had at a "docu-drama". I promise!

Best lines:

Eric O'Neill: My name is Eric.
Robert Hanssen: Your name is Clerk and my name is Sir or Boss if you can manage. And if I ever catch you in my office again, you'll be pissing purple.

Isy