Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (2002) is a made-for-television movie based on the story of Robert Hanssen, who was charged with and convicted of selling American secrets to the Soviet Union. It was written by Norman Mailer and directed by Lawrence Schiller.
Plot
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The film depicts abuse perpetrated by Howard Hanssen, Robert Hanssen's father, against Robert. According to Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel, the events are intended to have viewers sympathize with Hanssen.[1]
According to Boedeker, the film "lingers over his sexual peccadilloes".[1]
Cast
edit- William Hurt as Robert Hanssen[2]
- Mary-Louise Parker as Bonnie Hanssen[2]
- David Strathairn as Jack Hoschouer[2]
- Ron Silver as Mike Fine[2]
- Hilit Pace as Priscilla Galey[2]
- Wayne Knight as Walter Ballou[2]
- Peter Boyle as Howard Hanssen[2]
- Alexandre Kalugin as Victor Cherkashin[2]
- Lev Prygunov as Leonid Shebarshin[2]
- Scott Gibson as Richard Timber[2]
- Cara Pifko as Jane Hanssen[2]
- Other members of the cast included Dmitri Chepovetsky, Lubomir Mykytiuk, Barry Flatman, Nola Auguston, Kate Trotter, Eugene Lipinski, Bruce Hunter, Colin Fox, Frank Moore, Terry Vnesa, Yvonee Gaudry, Craig Eldridge, Sarah Lafleur, Arnold Pinnock, Lawrence Schiller, Oleg Kalugin, Ned Vukovic, Jacqueline Pillon, and Neil Crone.[2]
Production
editMaster Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story was filmed in Moscow, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.[2][3]
The film was produced by Oakdale Productions and 20th Century Fox Television, and was distributed by Fox Television. The executive producers of the film were Norman Mailer and Lawrence Schiller, the producer was Kay Hoffman, the director was Lawrence Schiller, and the writer was Norman Mailer.[2]
Reception
editMaster Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story received reviews from publications including Variety, The A.V. Club, the Tampa Bay Times, DVD Talk, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Christopher Null of Filmcritic.com.[2][4][5][6]
Phil Gallo, writing for Variety, wrote that the film was "A psychological drama that fails to haunt, intrigue or even repel its audience, “Master Spy” is a slowly told, drawn-out examination of an FBI agent who fights the demons of his upbringing, Catholicism and unbearable financial debt. Robert Hanssen’s story of how he came to sell FBI documents to the KGB is more background than plot as scribe Norman Mailer and director Lawrence Schiller stick with the double spy’s family life as the crux of this four-hour mini. William Hurt delivers a consistent performance as the droll, slightly base Hanssen and Mary-Louise Parker is excellent at living within the skin of his devoutly Catholic wife, Bonnie. Over four hours covering 33 years, we see little change in the Hanssens — their dedication to each other never wavers, they maintain traditional roles in the home and religion is their big fallback."[2]
An article in the Tampa Bay Times noted that the film left out some elements of Hanssen’s life.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Boedeker, Hal (2002-11-10). "'Master Spy'". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. X5. - Clipping at Newspapers.com. HTML page
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Gallo, Phil (November 7, 2002). "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story". Variety. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Yahr, Emily (February 16, 2014). "D.C. area residents lend houses for film, TV shoots". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Rabin, Nathan (May 27, 2003). "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Deggans, Eric (November 10, 2002). "Master Spy' keeps its own secrets". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story (2002) (TV)". MRQE. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
Further reading
edit- Moore, Frazier (November 8, 2002). "Hurt tackles the tough role of 'Master Spy'". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. p. 4M. Retrieved March 13, 2021. - Clipping at Newspapers.com
- Hughes, Mike (November 10, 2002). "CBS exposes the life of a 'Master Spy' with miniseries". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 2. Retrieved March 13, 2021. - Clipping at Newspapers.com
- Duffy, Mike (2002-11-08). "Overlong series looks into life of Soviet mole". Detroit Free Press. Detroit. p. 6H. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Crook, John (2002-11-10). "Creators say CBS spy movie strives to capture the facts". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. Zap2it. p. 3. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Thompson, Kevin D. (2002-11-10). "Hurt excels, but apologetic 'Master Spy' runs too long". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 9J. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Genzlinger, Neil (2002-11-09). "Real-life spy story bears no resemblance to Bond". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. The New York Times. p. F9. - Clipping at Newspapers.com. Printed version of: Genzlinger, Neil (2022-11-08). "TV WEEKEND; A Spy's Puzzling Tale: Was There More to It Than Money?". The New York Times. - Also at: Genzlinger, Neil (2002-11-09). "'Spy' is all very cloak-and-dagger, bit without cloaks and daggers". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. The New York Times. p. D4. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Johnson, Allan (2002-11-08). "'Master Spy' hits a wall in opener". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. p. Section 5 Page 8. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Bianculli, David (2002-11-08). "Tale of FBI turncoat needs taking in". New York Daily News. New York City. p. 139. - Clipping at Newspapers.com.
- Hill, Michael E. (2002-11-10). "Life of FBI traitor". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. Washington Post. p. I4. - Clipping at Newspapers.com. Reprint of a Washington Post article. Originally from: "THIS WEEK'S PICKS". The Washington Post. 2002-11-10.. Also in: Hill, Michael E. (2002-11-07). "Inside the mind of a spy". The Record. Stockton, California. Washington Post.
- Kronke, David (2002-11-10). "Spy's story worth telling, not this way". The Anniston Star. Anniston, Alabama. Los Angeles Daily News. p. 6E. - Clipping at Newspapers.com. Reprint from the Los Angeles Daily News
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