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Falling Down (1993)
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast overview: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall
Running time: 113 minutes
My dad recommended this to me as a good film, and I had a look on IMDb and saw that it had good reviews so I gave it a watch. I'm glad I did. This is the story of Edward 'D-Fens' Foster, an unemployed defence worker who gets out of his car one day and walks home, dealing with the problems he perceives and encounters along the way. This style of film-making makes for some interesting encounters, to say the least, and I think it's one of the more intriguing film ideas of the last twenty years or so.
I know Joel Schumacher has a bit of a dodgy reputation for his Batman effort, though this is the first film of his that I've seen so I can't comment on that.
Michael Douglas is terrific as Foster, someone driven to the edge by society and the damaging and destructive ideas they see within. Some of the set-pieces feel very prosaic - the fast-food scene is something I'm sure we've all thought (perhaps without the gunfire) - but I feel it's all quite powerful, and really serves to underline how one man can become overcome by frustration at the way society has turned out.
Robert Duvall plays his part equally well as the LAPD cop on his last day, although we actually feel sympathy for Douglas' character. Foster is an everyman, someone we all have within us, although many keep it hidden until we snap. This film is the story of one man who snaps and ends up taking his anger out on society's flaws.
The plot is, as mentioned, simple - Douglas' character is the film, essentially, and we follow him through a single day in LA. I think this can often make for a refreshing change in film rather than the usual rehashed and uninteresting plots.
I truly recommend this film, and it's already taken its place as one of my favourites.
Quotes
Bill Foster: I would've gotcha.
Bill Foster: I'm the Bad Guy?
Sergeant Prendergast: Yeah.
Bill Foster: How'd that happen? I did everything they told me to. Did you know I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
Sergeant Prendergast: Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Hey, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today. The only that makes you special is that little girl. Now let's go. Lets go!
Mr. Lee: Take the money.
Bill Foster: You think I'm a thief? Oh, you see, I'm not the thief. I'm not the one charging 85 cents for a *stinking* soda! You're the thief. I'm just standing up for my rights as a consumer.
Trivia
Michael Douglas considers this his favorite performance of all the movies he has been.
Iron Maiden's song entitled "Man on the Edge" is based on this movie.
Filmed during the L.A. riots of 1992.
Trailer
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast overview: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall
Running time: 113 minutes
My dad recommended this to me as a good film, and I had a look on IMDb and saw that it had good reviews so I gave it a watch. I'm glad I did. This is the story of Edward 'D-Fens' Foster, an unemployed defence worker who gets out of his car one day and walks home, dealing with the problems he perceives and encounters along the way. This style of film-making makes for some interesting encounters, to say the least, and I think it's one of the more intriguing film ideas of the last twenty years or so.
I know Joel Schumacher has a bit of a dodgy reputation for his Batman effort, though this is the first film of his that I've seen so I can't comment on that.
Michael Douglas is terrific as Foster, someone driven to the edge by society and the damaging and destructive ideas they see within. Some of the set-pieces feel very prosaic - the fast-food scene is something I'm sure we've all thought (perhaps without the gunfire) - but I feel it's all quite powerful, and really serves to underline how one man can become overcome by frustration at the way society has turned out.
Robert Duvall plays his part equally well as the LAPD cop on his last day, although we actually feel sympathy for Douglas' character. Foster is an everyman, someone we all have within us, although many keep it hidden until we snap. This film is the story of one man who snaps and ends up taking his anger out on society's flaws.
The plot is, as mentioned, simple - Douglas' character is the film, essentially, and we follow him through a single day in LA. I think this can often make for a refreshing change in film rather than the usual rehashed and uninteresting plots.
I truly recommend this film, and it's already taken its place as one of my favourites.
Quotes
Bill Foster: I would've gotcha.
Bill Foster: I'm the Bad Guy?
Sergeant Prendergast: Yeah.
Bill Foster: How'd that happen? I did everything they told me to. Did you know I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
Sergeant Prendergast: Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Hey, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today. The only that makes you special is that little girl. Now let's go. Lets go!
Mr. Lee: Take the money.
Bill Foster: You think I'm a thief? Oh, you see, I'm not the thief. I'm not the one charging 85 cents for a *stinking* soda! You're the thief. I'm just standing up for my rights as a consumer.
Trivia
Michael Douglas considers this his favorite performance of all the movies he has been.
Iron Maiden's song entitled "Man on the Edge" is based on this movie.
Filmed during the L.A. riots of 1992.
Trailer