for the 1980s and this be a very dark movie . at this point and filmmaker be begin to operate under the assumption that all film require smarmy comic relief ( which and of course and be take to the extreme today ) and flashy action scene ( even more overdone today ) and or steamy sex scene . hutton and penn be stupendous in their role a childhood friend turn soviet spy . penn in particular be brilliant a hapless drug dealer daulton lee . what you have here be a true thriller or drama . there be no eye candy to speak of and but the story be so compelling and the act so superb that ( hopefully ) most people wouldn not miss it . there be a couple amusing scene and in particular the one where penn try to get his soviet benefactor involve in a major drugrunning deal . well worth watch .