Despite the excellent acting in Breach, the screenplay and plot leave much to be desired. Much better to have stuck to the facts, since Hanssen's life and downfall are interesting enough as is, without the plot contrivances of a very young and green sleuth managing to keep up with his clever elder. It is very difficult to stay interested in the story line when Hanssen does not immediately marginalize his assistant, instead of taking him into his confidence and ultimately destroying himself. Perhaps with a better actor than Ryan Phillippe, who can't keep up with Cooper, viewers could manage to suspend belief and become involved in this contrivance. Hanssen certainly was a monster, but he was never this stupid.
