2 True

Breach

Story of an FBI agent who sold secrets uninterrupted for a period of over two decades. Noone knows how many lives were lost as a result of his disclosures. Noone will say how much that information compromised our national security.

I liked the film but it was not what I was expecting. It is much more subtle than anticipated, so if you are expecting Bond theatrics or MI action, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Ryan Phillipe is good eye candy and not a bad actor but the person who anchors this film is Chris Cooper. He does great character work and this time was no exception: paranoia magnified, isolation intensified and teetering implosion from the weight of his own guilt.

True story #1

8.5/10
Breach


Midnight Express

Story of an American college student visiting Istanbul who decided to strap a couple of kilos of hash to his chest and board a plane back to the states. It might have been easier to get away with that kind of thing in 70's but still. Naturally he gets caught and thrown into a Turkish prison.

Just in case you have Turkish prison fantasies, I should warn you that you won't after this one. Un be lievable accounts of how he was treated inside the system of corruption known as law enforcement in 1970s, anti-Nixon Turkey, how crafty he was at planning the logistics of escape and how cruel life could become when those attempts were uncovered by prison officials.

What is most amazing is how he eventually worked his way into Greece and then back to the US.

Brad Davis, who plays the lead, aside from being quite the scorching 70's stud, won several awards for this performance. Sadly he would eventually die of AIDS in 1991, 13 years later. Its a shame (another), he was really a good actor in this one, particularly the bathroom scene where he goes ballistic on a two-faced cellmate. Makes me wonder what he would have done later in his career.

(If you are a product of the 70's you will recognize the Gorgio Moroder theme music straightaway)

True Story #2

8.5/10
Midnight Express