Eric O'Neill, a low-level surveillance expert with the FBI, believes he is accomplishing his dream of becoming a full-fledged agent, with his unexpected promotion and assignment to clerk for Robert Hanssen, a renowned senior agent with 25 years in the FBI. However, he soon learns the reason for his promotion is to gain Hanssen's trust and find proof that he is a traitor to the country. Determined to draw the suspected double-agent out of deep cover, O'Neill finds himself in a lethal game of spy vs. spy, where nothing is as it seems.
Ultimately, the movie soars because of the inspired casting of Chris Cooper as Hanssen.
– Andrew Sarris,
New York Observer,
21 Mar 2007
fresh:
(Chris Cooper)is the principal reason why this unspectacular, low-key study of the Hanssen national security fiasco is so effective.
– Jonathan F. Richards,
Film.com,
23 Feb 2007
rotten:
Ray's careful emphasis on authenticity over thrills and psychology over action is impeded by this narrative's narrow window: there's so much we can't know about what Hanssen did and why.
– Tom Charity,
CNN.com,
17 Feb 2007
fresh:
Ray's impression of the real Hanssen remains frighteningly opaque.