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The Falcon and the Snowman

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The Falcon and the Snowman

R

Released Jan 25, 1985

2h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After his father (Pat Hingle) finds him a job at the CIA, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) discovers the less reputable side of the American government through handling classified documents. As he grows increasingly disillusioned, Boyce decides to sell the information to the Russians in an act of defiance. A drug-addicted friend of Boyce's, Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), becomes involved in the plot and acts as a middleman between Boyce and the Soviets, but the erratic Lee fails to cover his tracks.

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Critics Consensus

Stranger than fiction and improbably entertaining, The Falcon and the Snowman shows how easily idealism can be twisted into treason.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Thank heavens these spies come in from the cold -- it's frozen their brains.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Chris Peachment

Time Out

Hutton succumbs firstly to a thin role, and secondly to the film's lack of any strong viewpoint about its leading men. As usual Schlesinger is more than half in love with what he might be satirising.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It is not a thriller in any routine sense of the word. It's just the meticulously observant record of how naivet, inexperience, misplaced idealism and greed led to one of the most peculiar cases of treason in American history.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

... brilliantly shows how the protagonists’ equally idealistic, yet differing sense of self can lead them to be heroes and villains in the same instance...

Rated: 4/5

Jan 29, 2024

Full Review

Andy Adams

Japan Times

The Falcon and the Snowman is a tense, fast-paced film with fine performances by Hutton and Penn.

Feb 10, 2023

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Not exactly a fun watch, but a fascinating one for sure.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 23, 2020

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Jon G

A great movie based on a true story. Great performances by Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

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Chief B

Such a great movie. And it's what's really happened supposedly. I can't remember a movie that I can compare with this one in it's style and atmosphere. Hutton is great in it as the falcon walking around with falcons and eagles on his arm feeding pigeons to them being an idealist and a free soul in a way. Wearing jacket with the Indian print on it. Penn is also great and plays the sleaze ball who brings everybody in trouble pretty good. I don't wanna sound cliche but I think it's underrated and am glad rotten gave this the score it deserves.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

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Michael R

Exciting 80s movie that still holds up very well. Hutton is fantastic, and so is Penn when he used to care about being a serious actor.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

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Tic Toc M

Not bad, and interesting true story. One keeps seeing the same term used about this film: dated. Pat Metheny's score goes a long way in making it feel that way. This movie could be improved just by putting a new score on it. Luckily there's not much of it past the first fifteen minutes. The movie really starts coming together 20 minutes in, when Hutton's story (and path) becomes clear. Sean Penn is excellent, fans of his "Carlito's Way" performance might want to check this out. Even at the time, it felt like he was consciously building his acting reputation (definitely De Niro was a huge influence, specifically the King Of Comedy performance). Timothy Hutton is ok, kinda bland and serviceable, not able to surpass his "Ordinary People" performance, but this is the second movie I'd tell someone to watch, if they wanted to check out his work. (Actually "Taps" would probably be it, which also includes Sean Penn and a young Tom Cruise, one of HIS best performances). Darian Harewood, whom many will know from "Full Metal Jacket", has a good role in this. Lori Singer has virtually nothing to do throughout the movie, they obviously expended not one scintilla of energy on her character or the "love story" that ends up completely dead weight. Some other good performances: Richard Dysart definitely comes to mind. John Schlesinger does a solid job. The story definitely keeps you watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A awesome movie and performances by Penn and Hutton! Greed and Power can lead you to a place that you don't want to be, Especially if you're in the CIA and you commit a heinous crime- treason !

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

s r

Great story, poor delivery. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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John Schlesinger

Director

Timothy Hutton

Christopher Boyce

Sean Penn

Daulton Lee

David Suchet

Alex

Lori Singer

Lana

Pat Hingle

Mr. Boyce

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - I Am a Tourist

1:57

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - The Falcon is Free

2:09

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Surprise Inspection

2:11

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - It's Not Over

2:03

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Paranoid Meltdown

1:20

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - We Were Altar Boys Together

1:36

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Time to Diversify

2:08

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Predatory Behavior

2:09

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - A Partnership

1:58

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Courier Undependable

2:00

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Synopsis

After his father (Pat Hingle) finds him a job at the CIA, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) discovers the less reputable side of the American government through handling classified documents. As he grows increasingly disillusioned, Boyce decides to sell the information to the Russians in an act of defiance. A drug-addicted friend of Boyce's, Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), becomes involved in the plot and acts as a middleman between Boyce and the Soviets, but the erratic Lee fails to cover his tracks.

Director: John Schlesinger
Producer: John Schlesinger, Gabriel Katzka
Screenwriter: Steven Zaillian, Robert Lindsey
Distributor: Globo Video [br], Roadshow Home Video [au], Orion Pictures
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround

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