DVD Features
M&C Interview: Former FBI operative Eric O’Neill talks bringing Breach to the screen
By Patrick Luce
Jun 12, 2007, 17:29 GMT

Inspired by the real-life story of Robert Hanssen, Breach follows the search for an elusive mole in the top echelons of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

M&C recently had a chance to talk with special consultant for Breach and former FBI operative Eric O’Neill about his work on the movie and how it compared to what he really experienced during his investigation of Hanssen.

In Breach (now out on DVD), Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) is dragged from the obscurity of a low-level FBI surveillance job to work directly with one of the most powerful and trusted men at the agency. O’Neill has been handpicked to assist veteran operative Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper) in a new division created to protect all classified FBI intelligence.

The idealistic young man is dismayed to discover that his new boss is the subject of long-term, top-secret investigation and that he is expected to infiltrate Hanssen’s treasonous operation.  Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse, O’Neill must outwit Hanssen at his own game or watch Hanssen destroy him, his family and the nation they are both sworn to serve.

Special features for the DVD release of the film include: "Breaching The Truth"; "Anatomy Of A Character" (Brought to you by Volkswagon); Alternate/Deleted Scenes; "The Mole" as originally aired on 'Dateline' 03/05/01; and Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Billy Ray and O'Neill.

Eric O’Neill served as the Special Consultant for the film. In addition to working on the film he is a national defense and homeland security attorney in Washington, D.C., for DLA Piper.  A graduate of George Washington University Law School and Auburn University, O’Neill was an operative for the FBI’s Special Surveillance Group and worked undercover during the Robert Hanssen case, serving as Hanssen’s assistant and closest associate. 

During his time with the Bureau, his key role in the investigation into Hanssen’s work as a spy helped bring the double agent to justice.  Currently, O’Neill lives in Maryland with his wife, Juliana.

M&C: How did you become involved with the film Breach, and what were your thoughts about getting involved in the project? Did you have any hesitation?
 
O’Neill: My brother David O’Neill and I cooked up the original idea to make something out of my experience with Robert Hanssen over a few beers in the same tiny Eastern Market Apartment that is depicted in the film. David convinced me to at least ask the FBI for permission to tell my story – and therefore declassify my part in the investigation (at the time I had permission only to tell immediate family). 

I was hesitant at first, but my brother persisted until I finally caved and agreed to ask. The FBI denied permission the first time I asked, but later agreed to let me tell my story after Hanssen pled guilty, removing my need to testify, and I had left the FBI.   

M&C: What was your role on the film set, and how much did the screenwriters and director use your input on crafting the film’s actual story? How accurate do you feel it was to what you experienced?
 
O’Neill: I created the original story with Bill Rotko and Adam Mazer. I worked very closely with them to help write the first few drafts of the screenplay and wrote many narrative portions of it that they then turned into the proper written format. I then undertook the same process with Billy Ray, writing portions, answering questions and having a number of meetings. 

I also worked with many other aspects of the production, including props, set design and wardrobe to make sure that the movie displayed the highest degree of accuracy possible.  What you see is literally the way things are done in the FBI. On the film set I worked as a consultant and answered numerous questions and made a number of suggestions before and during filming.

M&C: How closely did you work with Ryan Phillippe in developing his portrayal of you for the film, and how accurate was his depiction of what you went through during the investigation? What was it like for you seeing Phillippe playing you on the big screen? What were your wife’s thoughts on his performance?
 
O’Neill: I worked closely with Ryan and Chris to help them understand their characters. With Ryan, I approached the work as letting him observe me and ask me questions. I thought it was best to let Ryan come up with his own interpretation of my character, rather than try to somehow teach him how to “be” me.

The end result was excellent. Ryan portrays me in a way that is very flattering. Both friends and Juliana laugh about how close he came to the real me – he picked up a number of my eccentricities and acts a lot like I do in real life.

M&C: How close was Chris Cooper’s performance to the actual Hanssen? What were your thoughts seeing Cooper developing the character and seeing him on screen?
 
O’Neill: Chris and I worked for a number of days prior to filming on his character. Unlike with Ryan, I worked with Chris to teach him how to act like Hanssen. I tried to impart many of the actions that were very intricate to Hanssen – such as jingling keys in pocket or clicking his pen. 

Chris did an incredible job of drawing from my recollections and creating a character that is very much like the man I helped catch.

M&C: How accurate was the movie with what really happened? The film seems to have the investigation (or at least your part) happening rather fast. Was this accurate or were their key elements that did not make it into the film story?

O’Neill: The movie is quite accurate. Obviously things are made more dramatic, time is compressed and events are added or changed, but this is not a documentary and never was intended to be. The movie preserves the historical record of the investigation, the interactions between Hanssen and myself and looks deeply into the mind of the man as I recall him. 

The arrest scene is shot exactly as it occurred in real life, at the same time of year (almost to the day) and in the precise location Hanssen was arrested.

M&C: Why do you feel this was an important story to bring to the screen? What do you feel the film’s message is?

O’Neill: To me the film’s message is “why do we choose not to betray.” What makes people good people – what societal or moral pressure keeps us all from selling out and becoming Hanssen?

M&C: The film also shows some of the stress that the investigation placed on your marriage. Was this an accurate depiction of what you and your wife went through?

O’Neill: The depiction of the stress on my marriage is, if anything, downplayed. We fought a bit more as I recall than the movie Eric and Juliana during that time.

M&C: Do you plan to do any further work with Hollywood or was this strictly a one time thing for the story of Breach? Why do you think this particular style of filming is so popular with audiences? 

O’Neill: I do plan to keep involved with Hollywood and am writing every day. I have a number of ideas and we’ll see if any of them hit. Besides the fact that the acting, direction, cinematography, music and every other aspect of the film are top notch, the film is so successful because it is true. It’s about an experience, a pretty normal guy (myself) had with a very abnormal person, and how I had to rise above my doubts and fears to succeed. It’s a story that audiences can relate to – and believe. 

So many movies today are completely unbelievable and rely far too much on gimmicks, explosions and special effects – rather than concentrate on the very real drama between characters. When a movie comes along that draws you into the characters and really makes you feel something toward them – it resonates with the audience – you take something away from the film. If you can teach your audience something while you entertain them, that’s real movie magic. 

Breach is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.