D.C. MOVIE GUYS

Cinema has shaped our view of spies and espionage since the birth of the feature film nearly a century ago. From “The 39 Steps” to “Notorious, ” from “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” to “The Constant Gardener,” we have been dazzled, dumbfounded and taken aback by the human chess game of lies, deception and shifting alliances that, seemingly, comprise the spy game. James Bond is a whole other part of the forest to be heard from. Director Billy Raqy, whose “Shattered Glass” gave us a fascinating insider’s view of deception and betrayal in journalism, takes us on a somewhat similar jourey in his new film, “Breach/” Based on the true story of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, considered the most damaging turncoat in United States history, the film is a throughly absorbing and compelling thriller with first class work from a top flight cast.

Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is a bright, ambitious agent-in-training at the Fedreal Bureau of Investigation whose specialty is counter intelligence work , including undercover work and surveillance. He’s approached by Senior Agent Kate Burroughs (Laura Linney) about a new assignment. Despite a seemingly spotless career as the Bureau’s top counter intellegence expert, Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) has come under suspicion of selling secrets to the Soviet Union and the Russians. O’Neill is assigned to work as Hanssen’s assistant while gathering tangible information that will lead to a conviction in court.

O’Neill is hampered by the fact that he’s given np cover story with which to gain Hanssen’s trust. He can’t tell anyone, including his wife, about the investigation. He must constantly deal with Hanssen’s growing suspicion that he’s being targeted and isolated within the Bureau while supposedly working on improving the F.B.I’s computer safeguards. Eric must use the facts of is actual life and his own wits and powers of decption to get close enough to figure out whether Hanssen is about to make one more drop of information or disappear to avoid arrest.

Building tension at a slow and steady pace, Ray and screenwriters Adam Mazer and William Rotko draw us deeper and deeper into the story, overcoming the obvioust obstacle hat audiences know how things will end. Instead, we are fascinated by the journey to that conclusion and how many times smll things could have thrown everythin off track. We struggle along with O’Neill as he tries to gain the mercurial Hanssen’s trust With no cover story, the young agent must do a dizzying dance of half-truths and white lies to protect himself and the investigation

Cooper makes Hanssen a frightening, yet fascinating combination of contradictions. A family man and devout Catholic who is addicted to porn sites on the Internet, Cooper finds a way to show us that there’s much more driving Hanssen than greed, but neither he or the movie pretend to know the total story. Phillippe, as he did in “Flags Of Our Fathers,” makes it clear he is more than just another handsome face as Eric O’Neill. He does an excellent job of framing the young agent’s swirling mix of emotions, from anger and disgust over Hanssen’s actions and behavior, as well as his respect for the older man’s brilliance and desire for official recognition from an often myopic and lazy F.B.I.

Linney, Kathleen Quinnlan as Hanssen’s wife and Dennis Haysbert as an agent working with Linney on the internal investigation, all add moments of drama and touches of color to the subtle, but gripping presentation. The shock pf seeing familiar lbuildings and locations will add to your viewing pleasure, as will the film’s dry and often cutting sense of humor that eases the building tension from time to time.

A first class effort from beginning to end, “Breach:” puts a human face on the shadowy world of spying, reminding us that betrayal and treason have a human face and cost. Both the movie’s final scenes and it’s written epilogue make this very clear. What’s also clear is that this is the first great film of 2007.

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for profanity violence and sexual content
JOE’S RATING: FOUR STARS..

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