Breach (2007)

Synopsis: True stories are always fun because, well, they're true. That means that it might actually happen in real life although "true" is a very slippery word in the film industry. So with that out of the way, this is the "true" story of Robert Hanssen. An FBI agent who infiltrated and sold billions of dollars worth of information to the Soviet Union causing damages beyond numbers. This movie is one big sting operation led by a rookie SG officer, Eric O'Neil. His job is to monitor everything Hanssen does and report back to the FBI. This is really his story about chasing a dream only to realize that in life, there are more important things than career advancements. Sometimes, all one needs in life is a good family, and something to pray for.

Should You Watch It? If you ever wondered what a FBI sting operation is like then you might wanna watch this movie. But no way is a real life sting operation as exciting as this movie. Which is pretty sad because this movie, frankly, is not very exciting. They over dramatized this hardcore but even then, the pace was way too slow. But you know what, it's not a thriller or mystery. It's partly a character study of the young hot shot rookie trying to prove himself only to realize that there are more to life than what he had originally thought.

Things to Watch Out For: Two men on a boat is the painting that is hung in Hanssen's office. And this pretty much sums up the relationship between Hanssen and O'Neil. O'Neil is sent to spy on Hanssen but inevitably allows himself to be mentored by Hanssen and in the end, is taught why Hanssen did it. The motive sets up the major debate of the film as to whether or not government agencies in the United States are really working to protect and serve the country, or if they are just playing the game and doing it for the money.

Things You Don't Expect: I was pretty disappointed with how static the main character was. Yes, he realizes the importance of family and stuff but seriously, there was no resolution with his relationship with Hanssen. Or it wasn't strong enough. Moreover, there was not enough emphasis on how this job, like any other job, can destroy someone's personal life. They could have used other characters to show the premise, but they didn't.

Final Comments:
Story: 6.5 (Adam Mazer & Wiliam Rotko)
Direction: 7.0 (Billy Ray)
Acting: 7.8
Cinematography: 7.0
Music/Sound: 6.2

Final Score: 7.0