Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Breach (2007)
Breach
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Photos (see all 40 | slideshow) Videos (see all 10)
Breach (2007) -- Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.
Breach (2007) -- Clip: O'Neill confronts Hanssen in the woods
Breach (2007) -- Behind The Scenes: Cooper in bullet proof vest
Breach (2007) -- Interview:  Laura Linney On working with real FBI agents
Breach (2007) -- Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union.

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   24,636 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Billy Ray
Writers (WGA):
Adam Mazer (screenplay) &
William Rotko (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Breach on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 February 2007 (USA) more
Tagline:
Inspired by the true story of the greatest security breach in U.S. history more
Plot:
Based on the true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
I Matter Plenty more
US TV Schedule:
Sat. July 115:30 PMUSA   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Chris Cooper ... Robert Hanssen

Ryan Phillippe ... Eric O'Neill

Laura Linney ... Kate Burroughs

Caroline Dhavernas ... Juliana O'Neill

Gary Cole ... Rich Garces

Dennis Haysbert ... Dean Plesac

Kathleen Quinlan ... Bonnie Hanssen

Bruce Davison ... John O'Neill

Jonathan Watton ... Geddes

Tom Barnett ... Jim Olsen

Jonathan Potts ... D.I.A. Suit
David Huband ... Photographer

Catherine Burdon ... Agent Nece

Scott Gibson ... Agent Sherin
Courtenay J. Stevens ... Agent Loper (as Courtenay Stevens)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Hanssen (USA) (working title)
The 11th Hour (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language.
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS
Certification:
Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43010) | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:11 | Sweden:7 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Denmark:7 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 | France:Unrated | New Zealand:M
Filming Locations:
Arlington, Virginia, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the hallway, we constantly see a poster with names and pictures of spies that have been caught, as well as short narratives of what their crimes were and how much time they're serving. These posters really exist in secure government facilities, and prominently displayed on all of them, since the events of this movie took place, is a photo of Robert Hanssen. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Eric steams open an envelope, leaves it on kitchen counter, Juliana comes home, puts two bags of groceries on envelope. Eric picks up envelope that has magically appeared on coffee table more
Quotes:
Robert Hanssen: Can you imagine, sitting in a room with a bunch of your colleagues, everybody trying to guess the identity of a mole and all the while, it's you they're after, you they're looking for? That must be very satisfying, wouldn't you think? more
Movie Connections:
References Secret Agent (1936) more
Soundtrack:
Near You more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
33 out of 48 people found the following comment useful:-
I Matter Plenty, 19 February 2007
7/10
Author: David Ferguson (fergusontx@gmail.com) from Dallas, Texas

Greetings again from the darkness. Writer/Director Billy Ray was the creative force behind "Shattered Glass" a few years ago and obviously is drawn to true stories of human deception. Here he takes on one of our biggest fears ... a federal agent who sells out his own country. Normally we only get these type of scenarios in LeCarre novels, but the story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen is a real life nightmare.

Perfect casting has Chris Cooper as the very odd Hanssen who has nearly 25 years with the bureau, many of which have been spent selling off national secrets to the Soviet Union. In an almost unbelievable stroke of luck, Hanssen was put in charge of finding the mole ... yes, his job was to find himself!! Cooper is very strong here as the ego-maniacal tortured soul who pulls off his deceit with a disarming devotion to religion, the bureau and blending. He appears to be just another working stiff pulling in a paycheck.

Most of the supporting staff is solid. Laura Linney is slightly miscast as the agent in charge of bringing Hanssen down. Dennis Haysbert is her boss. Gary Cole plays it straight here, and Kathleen Quinlan (as Hanssen's wife) and Bruce Davison (as Eric O'Neill's dad) have brief but effective turns. Caroline Dhavernas is an actress I am not familiar with, but her performance here has me intrigued.

The weak link in the film is Ryan Phillipe, who just doesn't possess the acting chops to pull off the pivotal role of Eric O'Neill - the agent wannabe who gets thrust into the crucial position of bringing Hanssen down. It is just implausible to believe Phillipe could ever pass the FBI entrance exam, much less outsmart the guy who outsmarted the entire bureau for two decades. Despite the weakness, the story is strong enough to overcome this and maintain the quasi-thriller feel. This is quite an accomplishment for a film when all the viewers know how it will end!! The real life Hanssen is spending life in prison and O'Neill immediately resigned from the bureau for the "normal" life of a Washington attorney. Part spy thriller, part history lesson, part psychoanalysis, "Breach" is very enjoyable despite the fact that we are provided no real answers as to WHY this man acted as he did. We are only led to believe that it wasn't the money, but instead the ego that drove his madness.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Breach (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Stereotype is Soooo Predictable kevlut77
Anyone who's watched this in HD... haudidoody
Philippe Crosses himself wrong clcjohnla
100 things I learned from breach alexweiss3
lump on Ryan Phillipe's head sunnydaz_365
Sorry to ppl who liked it but i was SO BORED! goodgirlgonebad1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Departed Antitrust Mission: Impossible Traitor A Mighty Heart
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.