Seen: March 17th, 2007
Format: Theater
Rating: 7
There's something compelling about "real" films. The appeal may be the same one that makes reality television so popular, but God, I hope not.
The very fact that it's so real may make Breach less interesting to mainstream audiences. There is very little gunplay, and that to make a dramatic point. There are no real car chases. There are heroics, but they are subtle and deep seated, voiced through strength of character instead of raw brawn.
This is what makes Breach appealing. The work the agents do is not glamorous. It is filled with boredom. It is filled with constant tension. It is filled with unrequited vigilance. The duality required of the work pulls all of the characters to pieces. Most very slowly and in subtle ways.
In this respect O'Neill is fortunate. His own degeneration happens over a fairly short span, and we are given hope he will recover. I don't think any other agent in the film ever will.
I'm still trying to process the statement that the film makes about religion and particularly, faith. I think it's important, and perhaps intentionally ambiguous. There's no evangelism here, or denigration either. Perhaps it's just left to each individual, as it should be.
The film is a bit plain, as it should be. There is nothing fancy about this world. The both provides an appropriate background for the story, as well as focuses the attention on the characters, which is where it belongs.
Performances are generally good. Ryan Philleppe is, at long last, starting to grow on me. Chris Cooper is perfectly cast. Though I know his work, he disappears into his character deftly. Laura Linney is solid and understated. Caroline Dhavernas is a nice surprise. I loved her in Wonderfalls and she did well in Hollywoodland. Seems her career is on the rise.
There are patriotic heroes in Breach. They may not be the ones you expect to see and are in fact, invisible to most of us. But it's good to see them recognized. It's good to given a little hope that someone has our collective back in this time.
The Good: Persistence in the face of adversity
The Bad: Some relationships could have been explored better.
The Ugly: A raging personality dichotomy.
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