Watch The Falcon and the Snowman
- R
- 1985
- 2 hr 11 min
-
6.8 (13,020)
The Falcon and the Snowman is a 1985 spy thriller directed by John Schlesinger and starring Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and Pat Hingle. The film is based on a true story and follows the exploits of two best friends who sell classified information to the Soviet Union. Hutton plays Christopher Boyce, a young man working at a defense contractor who becomes disillusioned with the United States government after learning about its involvement in some questionable practices. He decides to take matters into his own hands and begins stealing important documents from his job.
Penn plays Boyce's best friend, Daulton Lee, who is a drug dealer with ties to the Mexican mafia. Lee becomes involved in Boyce's espionage activities and agrees to sell the stolen documents to the Soviet Union for a substantial amount of money.
As Boyce becomes increasingly paranoid about being caught, he and Lee's friendship begins to deteriorate. The two men struggle to maintain their trust for each other as the stakes become higher and their actions more perilous.
The film's tension builds as the FBI closes in on the duo, and they are eventually caught and sentenced to prison for their crimes. The Falcon and the Snowman is a powerful exploration of disillusionment with the government and the lengths to which people will go to combat what they perceive as corruption.
Hutton delivers a nuanced and compelling performance as Boyce, who begins his journey with admirable intentions but descends into moral ambiguity as his actions become more extreme. Penn shines as Lee, a charismatic but reckless personality who becomes increasingly difficult to trust as he becomes involved in espionage.
The Falcon and the Snowman's cinematography captures the grit and desperation of its characters, immersing the viewer in their world and effectively conveying the sense of danger and intrigue that permeates the film.
Overall, The Falcon and the Snowman is a gripping thriller that explores complex themes of loyalty, morality, and political disillusionment. Its strong performances, compelling plot, and skillful direction make it a must-see for fans of the genre.
The Falcon and the Snowman is a 1985 thriller with a runtime of 2 hours and 11 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 68.