Breach
Director: Billy Ray
Stars: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Dennis Haysbert
Studio: Universal Pictures

The film that I’m more excited about than almost anything that’s come out this new year. First, I was a history major with a good amount of my studies going into post-WWII America and the foreign relations this country had with the rest of the world, but especially the Communist Bloc. That information alone should give you a good idea why I’m so enthralled. But, also, the cast is terrific, the story is true and this will not be a shoot ‘em up, gizmo driven testosterone spy flick a la The Bourne series. No, this is a story of the most intriguing and deceitful spy the US has ever come across and he just so happens to be working for our intelligence community while moonlighting for Russia as a double agent. As we’ve seen repeatedly, but maybe no more vividly than in the cult classic The Falcon and The Snowman, our intelligence community lacks severely in one of those two words and it isn’t the group of people word.

Robert Hanssen is best known as the biggest spy snafu in US government history. His willingness to compromise American information and sell it to the Russians for a reported $1.4 Million over twenty years remains the hallmark of selling US secrets. But, Hanssen was, as the film accurately portrays, either a diabolical genius or a simple henchman who made mistakes but was smart enough to cover them up. (When his wife first finds out about his dealing ways, she makes him confess so Hanssen goes to a priest whose bound not to tell anyone.) This is going to be one of the cruxes of this particular film; how they depict Hanssen and his spy tricks. On one hand, Hanssen did evade the intelligence for two decades, but he also was found out a good ten years before his capture in 2001, a scene you might remember from the news outlets, by various people related to him. The film will surround what has become a very public deceit especially considering Russia opened their old intelligence vaults not too long ago and gave the US access to a few Hanssen trinkets. If you enjoy movies for their thought and subtlety, this is going to be a film you absolutely must see. If you’re more into the shoot ‘em up versions, this one might not hold your attention. If you’re like me and you’ll watch any spy film, get ready for a trip to the theatres this weekend.

Ghost Rider
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Sam Elliott
Studio: Sony Pictures Releasing

There is bad. There is reprehensible. And then there is this little nugget. It’s very rare these days, with the influx of movie reviewers from all walks of the world pasted all over the internet, to find a movie that is universally mocked. Typically, or at least in this film’s case, you’ll find a group of Marvel Comics lovers who, despite anyone else’s loud objections, will review the film with a bias that it will indeed be good, even great, no matter what anyone else says. This isn’t even the case here. This film, as far as I’ve read, hasn’t garnered one good review, not even from the leading lady Eva Mendes. Is it trite? Of course. Is it pointless? Beyond even your wildest dreams. Is there any redeeming qualities? Not a one.

If you’ve ever read Marvels Ghost Rider comic before, you should be at least a little familiar with the premise of this film. But as with most comics, and especially Marvel, there is typically a singular theme that emerges from the superhero. Batman was the battle within that stretched to the battle for people. The X-Men battled both evil forces as well as, and more importantly, the stereotypes that go along with being different and weird in a society so immersed in normalcy. Exactly no one has figured out what this superhero brings to the table, but if there is a small minority out there with flame problems, we would know where this plot came from. But, as that is not the case, this superhero must save his lost girlfriend and battle the forces of evil for a reason not yet known. Of course, when you’re trying to get the butts into the seats, it probably should be more well known by now (it is opening today) and it probably should be a little deeper than just trying to get your lady friend back. Well, that’s as much as most people have gotten out of this film and I can’t say I know much more. There is an obligatory old wise man, the hot chick and the battle with evil but beyond that, I’m at a loss. Beyond the obvious potholes, nothing says ‘don’t go see this film’ like the studio pushing back the release date from a summer extravaganza to the depths of the winter months. Confidence? I think not.

Bridge to Terabithia
Director: Gabor Csupo
Stars: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

I haven’t read this book, so some of you out there might think I’m as obtuse as a Bill O’Reilly rant, but hey, at least I came out and said I’m less informed than some before coming off as a bloated gasbag. For those of you that haven’t read this book, it’s a Newberry Award winner, one of the highest awards that can be bestowed on a book. And from all accounts, it’s a great children’s tale, one that doesn’t coddle and yet has children hooked. The problem doesn’t lie in the story, though, as production issues have plagued this film from the start (like Ghost Rider it was supposed to be a summer release). Also, it doesn’t help that the last three big budget films based on (sort of) children’s stories- the Harry Potter films, the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings- have been such huge successes along with having some of the best production we’ve ever seen that this film really has to hold up to those and not stand by itself.

The story is about two friends who want to leave their real world problems in the rear view mirror and thusly create an imaginary land where those problems don’t exist. Upon creating this world, though, they come to realize that there actually is a real magic kingdom in the forest where the two are the king and queen. That’s as far as I’m going to go with the story because for those of you, again, who haven’t read the book, anything else I tell you is going to ruin a lot of what the tale is about. Suffice to say, the story will have to carry this film and there’s certainly the chance that it could.