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Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story, a review by KinkyCyborg

Title:Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story
Year: 2003
Director: Lawrence Schiller
Rating: R
Length: 122 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
William Hurt
Mary-Louise Parker
David Strathairn
Ron Silver
Hilit Pace

Plot:
Journey into the world of high-stakes espionage with the gripping true-life tale of Robert Hanssen, the respected FBI agent who betrayed his family, his religion and his country. William Hurt captivates as the daring traitor who sells America nuclear secrets to the KGB - entering into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that could cost him his life.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Closed Captioned


I didn't clue in right away when I put in Master Spy : The Robert Hanssen Story that it was another retelling of the same story found in the movie Breach with Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillipe. This movie focused on the man himself and the demons he was battling while Breach was all about the attempts to capture the spy and traitor to his country.

William Hurt perfectly plays the role of Robert Hanssen, a man who lives a double life of a devout Christian husband, father and also his secret life of informant to the Russian KGB coupled with deviant sexual behavior. It was amazing to watch how this man so deftly flew under the radar for more than 15 years, delivering some of America's most sensitive secrets to the Russians with no one even coming close to suspecting him. It finally took the collapse of the Russian state and the dismantling of the former KGB to finally point a finger in his direction.

While I found this movie to drag at times it provided a much more insightful look into the man's life. It certainly lacked the high octane thrills of Breach but I'd still recommend it as a good watch.


Rating:

(From KinkyCyborg's Random Reviews 2010 on May 25th, 2010)

Joan of Arc, a review by addicted2dvd

Joan of Arc


My Thoughts:
I have always liked the story of Joan of Arc. This movie (well actually a TV Miniseries) is one I never seen before. This one clocks in at 3 hour 9min. But watching it I didn't realize how much time had passed as the story was so enthralling that it felt like a fraction of the time. It was definitely worth the time I put into it... I am thrilled I added it to my collection.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: 2/27 - 2/29 on February 28th, 2009)

My PILOT Marathon, a review by Rich

Waking the Dead - Series One

Pilot - Waking The Dead
A new team of detectives, the Cold Case Squad, is put together to re-examine evidence of unsolved murders using advanced technology. In their first investigation DCI Peter Boyd has a second go at nailing the murderer of Alice Miller, a young girl who disappeared five years ago. Trouble is, the perpetrator is as keen as Boyd to act again, and abducts another girl...



Led by Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd (Trevor Eve) the Cold Case Squad investigates serious crimes which have gone unsolved. Armed with the latest technological advances and old fashioned hard work, Psychological Profiler Grace Foley (Sue Johnston), Forensic Pathologist Frankie Wharton (Holly Aird), Detective Constable Mel Silver (Claire Goose) and Detective Sergeant Spencer Jordan (Wil Johnson) wake the dead for clues and answers.

Brutishly long 2 part pilot special, the near 2 hour marathon was quite a slog and the epsiodes felt padded out. This very popular UK series did not hook me with this first episode, I did not warm to either of the 2 leads, Eve and Johnston, and felt they were too old and past it for the roles intended. The actual storyline was ok but surprisingly unoriginal, and there was very little suspense built up over the kidnapping drama.
Altogether not very inspiring.
 

(From My PILOT Marathon on September 17th, 2009)