An Acting Masterclass

Breach - 3.5/5

In terms of spy thrillers, Breach provides an interesting counter-point to The Bourne Ultimatum. Whilst the former was an adrenalin- fuelled rollercoaster-ride, this is a much slower paced, but still enthralling movie. It tells the true story of how Robert Hanssen (judged to be the worst spy in American history) was caught in 2001 after 22 years of selling secrets to the Russians.

A film which clearly gives away its ending in its very opening scene has to make sure that the journey to get there is interesting enough and Breach pulls it off, largely through the interplay between two actors on the top of their game. There are no big action sequences here and what tension there is, is very slow-burning. Writer-director Billy Ray (Shattered Glass) handles both the script and the direction with a quiet, slightly understated, but sure hand. However, he is clearly very much an actor's director - after all he remains the only one to have a got a decent performance out of Hayden Christiansen (Shattered Glass).

The supporting players do well. Dennis Haysbert (24's President Palmer) is pretty much as expected and Laura Linney is her usual excellent self as the FBI agents running the investigation. Only Gary Cole in a rare straight role seems slightly out of place. But the movie belongs to the two central characters.

We've come to expect excellence from Chris Cooper - just look at his CV - Syriana, The Bourne Identity, Adaptation, American Beauty to name but a few. But he clearly relishes the chance to get to grips with this complex character. Hanssen has been described as having totally split himself - on one hand devout catholic and family man and loyal patriot, on the other sexual deviant and traitor to his country. The fact the film wisely decides not to offer any conclusive reason why he did what he did is both one of its strengths and its greatest weaknesses - it adds realism but leaves you unsatisfied with unanswered questions.

It is Ryan Phillippe who still manages to surprise. Less touted in his early career than many of his contemporaries, he is starting to put together a string of ever better performances in great movies - Crash, Flags of our Fathers and now this, which might be his best yet as the trainee agent sent undercover to trap Hanssen. The interplay between the two is great and keeps the movie motoring as the ambitious Phillippe is forced to question his own goals and beliefs in the course of the investigation.

The film would probably be worth checking out anyway, but Cooper and Phillippe push it into the recommended viewing category.