If I didn't knew that this movie is based on real story I wouldn't probably believe in it. I would say that this is some barely believable fiction. Ironically this is a true story. Of course since this is a movie some things were probably changed for the dramatic purposes , yet the main core of the story is true.
The main problem is with the unlikable heroes. I'm sorry , but Hutton's decision seems to be made from stupidity. Was he really that naive ? Didn't he understood that politics is a dirty game where everyone is spying and manipulating the others ? Never was and never will be fair game ? That not only USA , but other countries aren't saints in any way ? That he was betraying his own country ? If he wanted to make change he should go to press. His intentions maybe were good , but in the end he only endangered his own country. And asking for help someone as irresponsible as a drug addict He should know that this would end really bad.
The movie sticks to the vision of Hutton's character being a really idealistic crusader and Penn being an sympathetic moron. I did care about them when things started to go really bad for them – the paranoia attacks , the fear , the sense of hopeless , the danger of losing your life. Schlesinger does show a great directing skills from time to time. The scene where gun appears on the table and the doors are locked , searching for the bugs inside the bird , the brutal interrogation in Mexico , the sad end for both of our heroes. There are also some funny scenes here , mostly involving Penn's character . The scene when he proposes a drug deal to Russians really tells you how f***ed up he is.
The music by Pat Metheny is good , even if it's mostly one and the same theme appearing through the whole movie. The song "This is not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny is great and was quite a hit back in the 80's.
Sean Penn is great as the drug addict . He really acts like drugs are the only thing he thinks about. His whiny voice , loose attitude and big mouth make him a memorable character. The Oscar nominee would do him justice. He dominates the screen.
Timothy Hutton is great too , giving a depth to his character. He's lost , noble and honest character who lost his way. When he tells near the end of the movie why he did it I really believed him. Disliked him, but still believed him. He was able to make an cliché character real.
There is a solid support by veteran actor Pat Hingle ("Batman") as Hutton's father , Lori Singer ("Footloose") as Hutton's girlfriend and especially from David Suchet (TV series "Poirot") as the Russian spy.
"The Falcon and snowman" is long (2 hours) , yet never boring movie . It's an interesting document about real life story with some nice moments in it. It's not a great movie by any way , because it's too shallow and one sided drama , yet it's entertaining enough to give it a chance. I give it 6/10.
The main problem is with the unlikable heroes. I'm sorry , but Hutton's decision seems to be made from stupidity. Was he really that naive ? Didn't he understood that politics is a dirty game where everyone is spying and manipulating the others ? Never was and never will be fair game ? That not only USA , but other countries aren't saints in any way ? That he was betraying his own country ? If he wanted to make change he should go to press. His intentions maybe were good , but in the end he only endangered his own country. And asking for help someone as irresponsible as a drug addict He should know that this would end really bad.
The movie sticks to the vision of Hutton's character being a really idealistic crusader and Penn being an sympathetic moron. I did care about them when things started to go really bad for them – the paranoia attacks , the fear , the sense of hopeless , the danger of losing your life. Schlesinger does show a great directing skills from time to time. The scene where gun appears on the table and the doors are locked , searching for the bugs inside the bird , the brutal interrogation in Mexico , the sad end for both of our heroes. There are also some funny scenes here , mostly involving Penn's character . The scene when he proposes a drug deal to Russians really tells you how f***ed up he is.
The music by Pat Metheny is good , even if it's mostly one and the same theme appearing through the whole movie. The song "This is not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny is great and was quite a hit back in the 80's.
Sean Penn is great as the drug addict . He really acts like drugs are the only thing he thinks about. His whiny voice , loose attitude and big mouth make him a memorable character. The Oscar nominee would do him justice. He dominates the screen.
Timothy Hutton is great too , giving a depth to his character. He's lost , noble and honest character who lost his way. When he tells near the end of the movie why he did it I really believed him. Disliked him, but still believed him. He was able to make an cliché character real.
There is a solid support by veteran actor Pat Hingle ("Batman") as Hutton's father , Lori Singer ("Footloose") as Hutton's girlfriend and especially from David Suchet (TV series "Poirot") as the Russian spy.
"The Falcon and snowman" is long (2 hours) , yet never boring movie . It's an interesting document about real life story with some nice moments in it. It's not a great movie by any way , because it's too shallow and one sided drama , yet it's entertaining enough to give it a chance. I give it 6/10.