Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story

"Excellent"

Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story Review


Meet Robert Hanssen, a walking contradiction.

He's deeply religious (Catholic, four kids) but trades nudie pics of his wife with his friend.

He's patriotic enough to work for the FBI, but his need for money drives him to sell secrets to the KGB.

He lectures another buddie on the evils of strip clubs. The next night he's got a prime table. Soon he's on vacation with his favorite stripper.

Hanssen is a spy for both sides. And he was a real person.

Masterfully played by William Hurt, this miniseries (I have no idea when it aired or on what channel, but it must have been wildly censored) captures the inner turmoil that must plague a double agent, particularly the oxymorons of the terribly complex Robert Hanssen. About two hours long, the film chronicles Hanssen's rise through the FBI, his betrayals to the Russians, and his ultimate comeuppance long after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The script by Norman Mailer (yes, Norman Mailer) masterfully weaves Hanssen's professional indescretions with his perverse homelife. When Hurt's Hanssen offers to slip Rohypnol to his wife (Mary-Louise Parker) so his best friend (David Strathairn) can father a child by her, well, you know you are truly in the twilight zone of humanity.

The film moves fairly slow, in keeping with the miniseries tradition, and it traces some 20 years in Hanssen's career. He falls in and out of contact with Russia, finds himself alternately a hero and a villain within the Bureau, and the FBI never seems to have a clue as to who's the mole. You know he'll get caught, and you know why he'll go down: He's too freakin' weird to get away with it forever. Highly recommended, especially for something that was made for TV.



Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story

Facts and Figures

Run time: 200 mins

In Theaters: Sunday 10th November 2002

Distributed by: Fox Television Studios

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 4 / 5

IMDB: 6.3 / 10

Cast & Crew

Producer:

Starring: as Robert P. Hanssen, as Bonnie Hanssen, as Jack Hoschouer

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews