Michael Douglas spent a good portion of his career playing ordinary office guys falling prey to circumstance, but Falling Down takes the idea to an extreme. On a hot Los Angeles day, he goes postal, and we track his journey to his daughter's birthday party, and his spiral down the drain of madness. In a sense, it's about First World anger, and an escapist fantasy about a man who won't take it anymore and takes a stand against the rudeness of the modern world. It's also about mental health and how precarious it is, how one man is destroyed by it, while another, a cop played by Robert Duvall, uses his soulful humanity to resiliently endure even worse things. Those are two things that make this film still resonate today. The story should make you feel uncomfortable and I believe it does. Douglas' "D-Fens" is neither good, nor bad. You feel for him, but also find some of the things he says and does distasteful. You may start wondering where the film's politics are. On whose side it is. And part of it is Joel Schumacher's "big budget" direction, as if D-Fens was an ordinary Joe living in an action movie world, and this is what happens when he gets his hands on a weapon. The slick cinematography and Hollywood gunplay seem to glamorize a man's nervous breakdown, and once again, you wonder what the movie thinks of its subject matter. But I think that's part of its interest. Our own relationship to violence, real, imagined, repressed, fictional and otherwise, is examined. Are close or far are we from D-Fens' state of mind?
The first hour was an entertaining watch carried by the premise and conflict, with moments of on-the-nose dialogue and unrealistic scenarios hindering it only slightly. The second half takes a nose dive however into awful dialogue, direction of actors, and plot points that would require an enourmous suspension of disbelief to enjoy. Overall a disappointment, which is a pity considering the commitment Douglas and Duvall display in their respective roles.
To end on a positive note, however: the cinematography is aesthetically beautiful, with the warmth of the shots capturing the heat of the day the story is set in.
I remember this film getting so much criticism when it was released. I was apprehensive about watching it but im glad I did, its brilliant, an absolute classic. You route for Michael Douglas' character throughout as he is a definative anti-hero. A must watch
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Comments 1 - 15 of 23
GremVendetta
"I'm the bad guy? How'd that happen?"That line won me over, instantly.
Siskoid
Michael Douglas spent a good portion of his career playing ordinary office guys falling prey to circumstance, but Falling Down takes the idea to an extreme. On a hot Los Angeles day, he goes postal, and we track his journey to his daughter's birthday party, and his spiral down the drain of madness. In a sense, it's about First World anger, and an escapist fantasy about a man who won't take it anymore and takes a stand against the rudeness of the modern world. It's also about mental health and how precarious it is, how one man is destroyed by it, while another, a cop played by Robert Duvall, uses his soulful humanity to resiliently endure even worse things. Those are two things that make this film still resonate today. The story should make you feel uncomfortable and I believe it does. Douglas' "D-Fens" is neither good, nor bad. You feel for him, but also find some of the things he says and does distasteful. You may start wondering where the film's politics are. On whose side it is. And part of it is Joel Schumacher's "big budget" direction, as if D-Fens was an ordinary Joe living in an action movie world, and this is what happens when he gets his hands on a weapon. The slick cinematography and Hollywood gunplay seem to glamorize a man's nervous breakdown, and once again, you wonder what the movie thinks of its subject matter. But I think that's part of its interest. Our own relationship to violence, real, imagined, repressed, fictional and otherwise, is examined. Are close or far are we from D-Fens' state of mind?marienbad
amazingly entertaining.grit
Love this movie, don't understand how it can't be one a single list.GATO
i think everybody woke up someday and just wanted to do what D-Fens didItsDietrich
How can this film not be in any top lists?boulderman
Watched again tonight, sixth time (?), was in the mood(!)TeaDrinker3000
The first hour was an entertaining watch carried by the premise and conflict, with moments of on-the-nose dialogue and unrealistic scenarios hindering it only slightly. The second half takes a nose dive however into awful dialogue, direction of actors, and plot points that would require an enourmous suspension of disbelief to enjoy. Overall a disappointment, which is a pity considering the commitment Douglas and Duvall display in their respective roles.To end on a positive note, however: the cinematography is aesthetically beautiful, with the warmth of the shots capturing the heat of the day the story is set in.
Pauljt1980
I remember this film getting so much criticism when it was released. I was apprehensive about watching it but im glad I did, its brilliant, an absolute classic. You route for Michael Douglas' character throughout as he is a definative anti-hero. A must watchpoppunknerd182
This not being in a single top list is a tragedy. Definitely one of my favorite films.@Boogiesmith, have you ever been out of your house? This movie is even MORE relevant now than in 1993.
IreneAdler
Really good movie, very entertaining. Michael Douglas' performance was very intense.abmannetje
All these "some lists" are getting rather filled up, or there should be a top three-biljon best movies. I'll start working on that.Entertaining movie. Great to see how a grown man goes insane.
sammysin
Spellbinding stuff from Douglas.Excellent film.
psalbego
I agree, deserves to be in several listssoypinguinita
so good omgShowing items 1 – 15 of 23