Breach

Based on the true story of the greatest security breach in United States history, Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper star in Breach. Breach is the kind of film you see rarely now a days...not because it is a fantastic film, or an original story, or even great acting, but because it's just an entertaining film. Breach doesn't overstep its limits, not too outrageous with tons of action (like all the Jack Ryan films) and not too long and drawn out (like Lord of the Rings), it just IS, and being that average spy film works.
Breach is about the true story of Robert Hanssen(Chris Cooper), an FBI agent, who was providing the Soviet Union with U.S. secrets for a period of about 15 years. When the FBI discovers this, they hire Eric O'Neill(Ryan Phillippe), an up-and-coming FBI agent, to be Hanssen's personal assistant, and of course to keep a close watch on everything he does in order to build a case against him. Hanssen is very religious, extremely forward, and paranoid, often testing his peers to prove their loyalty, while O'Neill is an overachiever and more personable. O'Neill uses these traits to get closer to Hanssen, gaining his trust while snooping around his office looking for the incriminating evidence that he needs. Breach is a spy film that examines the relationship between two very different men, instead of giving us another overdone action film. Cooper, who's always on point, is creepier than ever in Breach, with his OCD habits, sexual perversions and paranoia. Phillippe also does his job in a role where he could have easily overacted. I'm not giving out any Oscars here, both men just did a great job.
Overall, Breach was one of the best movies so far this year. It had me cringing every time O'Neill almost got caught and rooting for him every time he got closer to bringing Hanssen down. With all the over the top films that come out today, and all of the directors that are looking to have their own Lord of the Rings-like trilogy, I wish more movies of this kind would take their place. Big isn't always better!

Grade: B+