Falling Down

****
Release Date: June 4th 1993

An unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society, begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.

Director: Joel Schumacher (Trespass, Phone Booth, Tigerland, Flatliners)

Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Barbara Hershey, Rachel Ticotin

William 'D-Fens' Foster is starting to have a bad day. Stuck in an L.A freeway gridlock on a hot, summer day, he decides to abandon the car and walk home instead.

Traffic is the least of his, and our worries, as Falling Down will soon show. The real problem lies in society as a whole; being mugged off in a overpriced corner shop, Immigrants speaking their native language, gang warfare, burger joints that falsely advertise their food, a Nazi fascist with a racist chip on his shoulder and rich white men taking up all the land.

Now the worst thing about it is we can all relate to his anguish in one way or another. That means Falling Down is giving off the wrong kind of message. Wrong. Some people might see D-Fens as the protagonist, our hero who's cleaning up the mess of civilisation. He's an objective character, neither good nor bad.

Robert Duvall's Detective Prendergast is retiring from police work, and it's his last day at the office. What an end it would be for him if he were to take this nutcase down! Whilst dealing with the hassle from his mentally unstable wife, it can be clearly seen that he's not leaving the force because he wants to.

Be prepared for some amazing acting from Michael Douglas. It was definitely a risk taking on this role. He's at his peak during the burger joint scene. Whatever anyone else says to make him happy ends up making him angrier. Watch as he compares his burger to the photo of one. Sublime.

Overview: Falling Down is not a film to be taken seriously. It's dark humour coupled with its theme gives you a unique and entertaining movie. Go along just for the ride.