Title: Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen
Story
Stars: William Hurt, Mary-Louise
Parker, David Straithairn, Ron Silver, Hilit Pace, Wayne Knight, Peter Boyle,
and Scott Gibson
Writer: Norman Mailer
Director: Lawrence Schiller
Executive Producers: Norman Mailer and
Lawrence Schiller
Running Time: Approximately 180 minutes
without commercials for both parts
Media: CBS Television Miniseries Event
(NTSC VHS Screeners)
Part 1 Premiere: Sunday, November 10,
2002, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Part 2 Premiere: Sunday, November 17,
2002, at 9pm (ET/PT)
Network: CBS Network Television (Check
your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: Not Available At Time Of
Screening
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
On February 18, 2001, 56-year-old FBI
Special Agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested and charged with espionage at a
dead-drop site in a park near his Vienna, Va. home. To the shock of the FBI, his
family – and the rest of the nation – Hanson had been spying for the Soviet
Union and later Russia, for more than 20 years of his 25-year career at the FBI.
Hanson also betrayed the trust of intimacy with his wife by sharing nude
photographs and encouraging a childhood friend watch them copulate.
I have to say that after watching this
miniseries I felt a greater sense of anger against this government traitor more
than I have ever have before because the story is truly an example of “the
truth is stranger than fiction,” and he is lucky he did not receive a harsher
sentence than the ultimate life without parole sentence he received in May of
2002. William Hurt does a fine job on portraying a complex character for this
miniseries and the supporting cast elevates this series above the average
broadcast network television programming. An
incredible amount of research and cooperation went into the production of this
miniseries from the government to the real family involved in this American
tragedy. The production was shot on location in Moscow, Hong Kong, Hawaii,
Toronto, and Washington D.C. and the teleplay was written by none other than
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer.
Strangely CBS is televising this
two-part miniseries on two Sundays a week apart rather than one day or so after
the next, but the miniseries is one of the strongest dramatic productions to
appear in years so set your VCRs or your TIVO, but whatever you do, don’t miss
this CBS Event Miniseries when “Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story” debuts
with part 1 on Sunday, November 10, 2002, at 9pm (ET/PT) followed by part 2 on
Sunday, November 17, 2002, at 9pm (ET/PT).
© Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.