Falling Down (1993) First Time Watching! Movie Reaction!

[@salsanchez4177]

Michael Douglas has repeated stated in interviews that 'Falling Down' is, personally, his favorite movie. He put ALL of himself into it and he considers it his best work

[@vincecommando7575]

He definitely convinced me that didn't hold back in this movie. What an amazing character and interesting story as well. Hollywood seldom ever tells these types of stories anymore.

[@dustandroktwok1447]

​@@vincecommando7575 This movie would never get made today.

[@In_Orbit]

@@vincecommando7575 Movies before the 2000s were so much better. Can't wait for this superhero and constant remakes phase to finally end.

[@joeymac3777]

​@@In_OrbitThat's what happens when no one has any originality anymore.

[@SurvivorBri]

​@@In_OrbitI don't think this "phase" is going to end in our lifetime.

[@LibertarianJRT]

"I'm the bad guy?" Such a powerful character study. So many people can relate to how he feels.

[@charlize1253]

The movie is a fascinating character study of narcissism: Michael Douglas never understands that anything he does is wrong because, in his mind, he has justifications for everything in which he's always the victim and the world is treating him unfairly. Terrorizing your wife, violating court orders, leaving your car in the road, to a narcissist it's all justified if you had a bad day

[@burgcarli929]

​​​​@@charlize1253This is a man having everything taken from him. This is not a character study in narcissism. He lost his marriage, daughter and job. Under those circumstances, who wouldn't snap. Let's face it, society doesn't care about men. They say, suck it up and deal with it. We never say that to women.

[@Valzahd]

@@burgcarli929 Let's not turn this into a competition for who has it worse. Society screws everyone over in one way or another. As a whole we should stop demanding everyone, man or woman, to follow some strict unwritten rule book for how their gender should behave.

[@lizd2943]

But his rage is why he lost his family in the first place.@@burgcarli929

[@omegashinra7672]

@@burgcarli929 You're completely wrong. He's literally shown on video verbally abusing his wife and forcing his crying screaming child to do stuff she doesn't want to. There's a restraining order for a reason, he didn't just become a crazy person throughout the movie, he was a fucking headcase before the film even starts and it's explained and shown pretty clearly throughout the film that he's a psychopath. I have no idea how people like you miss something so obvious.

[@mypl510]

One of the most overlooked movies of the 90's that deserves more recognition.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Totally agree!! One crazy film. Be safe.

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

Agreed. If you look at society today, this film should've won an Oscar for Best Picture.

[@andrewjacksonbr]

Well, this is a great film that unfortunately took root in America’s subconscious zeitgeist.

[@adamh8876]

It was very looked at the time.

[@vincecommando7575]

If more people today saw this film. It would completely blow their minds.

[@markminter6312]

The older you get, the more this movie resonates.

[@lukedraper4100]

Was 11 when this came out n understood it back then it still works to this day just sucks I'm Australian

[@kongvinter33]

@@lukedraper4100 if it makes you feel any better, Australia is the USA of Asia. hehe

[@Jona-ej5us]

@@lukedraper4100 Australia the same as America just on a smaller scale that's why no one talks about it.

[@Cookieboy70]

It's interesting how Robert Duvall and Michael Douglas character basically experience the same life (loss of having your daughter, dealing with shitty people) but Robert Duvall's character is able to stay positive and retain a grasp on his mental health, while Michael Douglas goes into a complete free fall of darkness.

[@jackmeowmeowmeow2177]

I see it as how the people around you will affect you when you are vulnerable. Duvall’s character has people who care about and support him, meanwhile Douglas you see from the mother and wife an attempt to distance and isolate him instead of helping or supporting him which is ultimately what lead to his downfall of mind. (His stresses are ignored and invalidated by his wife leading to his frustration and outbursts.)

[@dre3k78]

@@jackmeowmeowmeow2177 Well we dont really know the whole back story of Douglas's family life other then the video tapes that were shown. He seemed to be very threatening towards his wife and kid....why would they want him around? He clearly had anger issues. Also Duvall didnt have people around him who cared about him other then his partner....the rest were idiot cops and criminals he had to deal with.

[@jackmeowmeowmeow2177]

@@dre3k78 idiot cops who still went out of their way to involve him with everyone, even if it was usually on the butt end of a joke like the desk prank, a wife who even though she was difficult, understood and respected him (shown near the end) it also helps that Duvall’s character is still employed and has that stability and purpose as a cop. All we see from the people around D-fens was people saying how angry and horrible he was. They gave up on him or ignored his problems, then when he lashed out they blamed him even more and isolated him from likely the person who kept him together, his daughter, who loved him despite his troubles (ending scenes) we only really understand one perspective, the mother who clearly was disconnected from him prior to his snapping. (Videos show them arguing and her pouring fuel on the fire: “you’re scaring her!” When he was just loud a bit, what scared the daughter was the parents fighting for seemingly no reason, not d-fens being mad.) In D-fens story, no body is the good guy really, its a shattered family due to financial and social stresses. Made evident by what he shares in the end, he got lost his job and purpose, his greatest skill of creating missiles is basically pointless if no one will hire him, his wife blames him and doesn’t support or try to help him in any way, his mother is equally as useless in terms of helping his mental health.

[@alexanderpavlovic8370]

​@@dre3k78 I can see your perspective, but why would the daughter be so excited to see him when he shows up?

[@dre3k78]

@@alexanderpavlovic8370 He is still her father and she loves him but she is barely old enough to fully understand what has been going on in their parent's relationship.

[@MrDrokkul]

When D-Fens stops and questions "I'm the bad guy? How'd that happen?" it's kind of heartbreaking.

[@vigorousera]

I haven't seen this movie since seeing it in theaters, but that was the one line that stuck with me.

[@bdog1323]

30 years later I'm STILL waiting for that movie Under Construction to come out. Looked explosive. 😁

[@dubbleplusgood]

It actually came out the following year but unfortunately, it bombed.

[@bdog1323]

@@dubbleplusgood No wonder the roads still aren't fixed in this country yet.

[@chuckleezodiac24]

@@dubbleplusgood you *#*(&! you beat me to it!!

[@Big_Bag_of_Pus]

I thought it *did* come out, and was an underground smash.

[@MessOfThings]

Make it.

[@thaik56]

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profondly sick society". - Jiddu Krishnamurti

[@adamromero]

I love this quote

[@user-vf3wk2nw9d]

The sneaky laugh after the “now you’re gonna die wearing that stupid little hat” at 27:34 got me hahaha

[@devlinallistair-zx5by]

The quintessential example of "leveling up" as he goes from bat, to knife, to guns to rocket launcher. Love it.

[@raisedonfiction]

This is why they serve all day breakfast now

[@samantha_schmitt]

Omg 😂

[@wibli]

LOL

[@motorcycleboy9000]

It fuckin is 😂😂😂

[@Sorcerers_Apprentice]

Pretty sure they have all day breakfast now because sane people sent letters, emails and phone calls to the fast food companies saying "we want all day breakfast, we will pay you $$$", NOT because some crazy person held up a fast food location with a gun and complained.

[@harvey4512]

I Live in UK They Serve Breakfast at Mcdonalds until 11

[@MikeB12800]

The actress that plays the detective, Rachel Ticotin was in Man on Fire. She was the reporter. She also co starred in Total Recall with Arnie. She was also in Con Air (the prison guard on the plane) as well as many other movie and TV roles.

[@nw2861]

Wasn't she also a police in Predator 2? the pregnant partner of the main actor.

[@DocuzanQuitomos]

@@nw2861 They look alike, but the actress in Predator 2 is Maria Conchita Alonso

[@bikko3089]

He was the mother of the mexican police character in Lost (sorry forgot the name)

[@daltonio6001]

@@bikko3089Ana Lucia

[@w1975b]

@@DocuzanQuitomos Maria was in an Arnold movie, The Running Man. So both Rachel and Maria were co-stars for Arnold.

[@obscillesk]

I like thinking of Falling Down, Office Space, and Fight Club as an informal trilogy about the crushing weight of corporate existence

[@XmycekX]

Sam's face as she says "this is definitely not a comedy" was pure gold. Most I've laughed in a while 😂

[@rickardroach9075]

Nah, people are afraid to laugh nowadays. They’re so worried about offending people. 🤷‍♂️

[@chriskelly3481]

It IS a comedy!!! 😂 A dark, dark, DAAARK comedy. 😁

[@JayCity10]

No life is forever, so laugh.

[@Jordashian93]

One of the best movies of the 90's and probably Michael Douglas' best performance.

[@Andy2481]

Wall Street 1987 was prob his best. Either that or Falling Down.

[@jamesfrench7299]

With William Foster he immerses himself into that role so much you forget it's Micheal Douglas. I don't think he achieved that in any other movie he did.

[@Jerzeejaylive]

I’d say this or The Game. Incredible.

[@jamesfrench7299]

A rollercoaster the first time you watch it until you know the ending. Micheal Douglas couldn't look more his usual self if he tried.

[@mynameisnotearl4383]

Fallen down is one of those movies that doesn’t get talked about ENOUGH

[@lukedaley17]

The greatest film from the late Joel Schumacher and a great performance from Michael Douglas.

[@jkhoover]

Uhm, Batman and Robin??? Helloooooo???

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

​@@jkhooverThat's a fun movie

[@derekchant7875]

The lost boys

[@jannathompson2262]

A Time to Kill was pretty good too;)

[@brianvernon249]

I just learned this fact. Thank you. Never paid attention. And to think he was Halston’s assistant.

[@ericlewisauthor]

What's scary is I feel more and more like this guy every day.

[@Slosher52]

Yep, terrifying realization as you get older. As a kid I thought the guy was just plain nuts (which he still is).

[@hadoken95]

@@Slosher52 I've noticed both in watching my parents and myself as I get older it's like we (humans) just get more intolerant of things that are 'different' than what we expect - we just start becoming unadaptable and rigid. Like our brains are getting solidified.

[@helpmeImpoor5314]

That's when you start to make changes in your life and routines to save your sanity. There's no reason to suffer - tweak your life/career/habits to avoid stressors as much as possible. Life's too short not to be happy. If there's a will, there's a way!

[@Scottyo74]

I am 49 and somedays I take a day off and tell no one and just go to the park. haha

[@jasonm8017]

@@Dave-hb7lxvery insightful, everyone is their own worst enemy

[@chrisgrove7829]

Ah this was reportedly Michael Douglas’s favorite acting gig. This movie has a lot to say. Both Douglas’s character and Prendergast have been compared as being kind of put upon in life, but Prendergast chooses to role with it in a healthier way than Foster who kind of loses his ever loving mind in the process. He definitely has anger issues, but we’re kind of strangely with him up until a certain point. That point tends to vary from each individual viewer:)

[@charlize1253]

The movie is a fascinating character study of narcissism: Michael Douglas never understands that anything he does is wrong because, in his mind, he has justifications for everything in which he's always the victim and the world is treating him unfairly. Terrorizing your wife, violating court orders, leaving your car in the road, to a narcissist it's all justified if you had a bad day

[@chrisgrove7829]

@@charlize1253 That is so true. Well said:)

[@contemporaryconundrums93]

​@@charlize1253Nah man, you just a cuck. Didn't know your bitch wife's boyfriend lets you use the Internet

[@lelouchlives8930]

It's because he's always calling out the BS in society even though he goes about the wrong way (violence.)

[@paulg123]

In 1993 when this movie came out and I just moved to Los Angeles, I couldn't relate to this guy at all. 30 years later, I feel so much empathy for this man it's scary. Great movie. Great performance. *** I want to strongly recommend the 1997 movie BREAKDOWN with Kurt Russell. An excellent action/thriller. ***

[@victor75208]

I saw this movie when I was in my late teens and thought he was cool and didn't take shit from anyone. Now looking at this review I realized he's a shitty person. 🤷

[@moeammo7003]

In 2023 we can all relate with him!!!

[@brotherrandyll4093]

Yes, Breakdown was a great movie.

[@supastar25]

Breakdown is so awesome

[@laurelg9586]

yes! yes! yes! Breakdown! Kurt Russell/Kathleen Quinlan! Kurt Russell excellent as understated everyman having to reach inside himself to save his wife!

[@clayjohanson]

Such a good movie - an amazing depiction of the decline and fall of an average person’s life, but also of the decline (and fall?) of society. As you pointed out, there are very few good people in this movie.

[@ottokaare5925]

He wasn't an average person

[@insaneconqueror5421]

He was clearly mentally disturbed before his curtain call.

[@x_mau9355]

You clearly don't know what pressure of society does on some people. And maybe less on others.

[@robeson1070]

@@ottokaare5925 No, he wasn't. And the society around him absolutely wasn't set up to either prevent him from losing his mind in the first place, give him less reasons to go as far down that dark path as he did, or stop him absent Duvall's, also, extra-ordinary character.

[@SPECTRA_87]

I think "I'm the bad guy?" is one of my favorite movie quotes of all time. At least top 3.

[@MG-jv7pe]

Being from LA - a lot of people lost their aero jobs when McDonnell Douglas closed, almost 20K people lost their livelihood, seeing Michael Douglas’ performance gives us a peak into what it may have been like for someone already on edge with other life issues before the mass layoffs.

[@bodine57]

While one always recognizes Robert Duvall in a movie, it's amazing how easily he falls into so many different kinds of characters. One of my all-time favorite actors!

[@bbwng54]

Agree- one of the great actors of his generation!

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Reminds me of the Harrison Ford story. "I thought he was supposed to look like a bellboy."

[@chermebrownsauce]

Duvall and Hackman, two beasts!

[@jamesfrench7299]

One scene and line of him always stuck to mind. He says this is my office in Colors when describing his tan 1980s Chevy Impala.

[@00Spiral007]

"Now you're gonna die! Wearing that stupid little hat!!!" is maybe the most memorable line from this movie to me lmfao

[@lelouchlives8930]

Probably the funniest line in the movie.

[@Only1Noodle]

This movie to me, is a metaphor of how we take life for granted, even in the course of a day. The fact it relates to people, even today, speaks volume. I appreciate the value of a day, because you never know what might happen, this movie showed a hypothetical example.

[@BigHatMatt]

While this movie is not heartwarming, endearing, or really has any sort of high moral message, Michael Douglas' performance in this is simply amazing.

[@jeffstrom164]

Not sure what you mean here, it's entirely about morality. This is a commentary on society and how it destroys callously while building and nurturing. D. Fens isn't just some guy that snapped, he's the embodiment of becoming the thing you hate without realizing it. He was also labeled a bad guy by society before he was one. This movie is about nothing but moral messages.

[@Rowgue51]

It's not heartwarming or endearing, but it definitely has a very real message that a lot of people need to understand.

[@vincecommando7575]

Rutger Hauer once said "It's way more fun to play the villain than the hero". The reason being is heroes have strict rules to follow. Villains have few if any rules to follow. Hence villains are often more interesting characters than heroes.

[@konowd]

A terrific actor, always liked him

[@BigHatMatt]

@@jeffstrom164 Sure its about morals, but not high morals. Its a cautionary tale of low morality.

[@donovanmedieval]

The guy who owns the army surplus store owner is played by Frederick Forrest, who was extremely underated in my opinion. He previously appeared with Robert Duvall in the western miniseries "Lonesome Dove." He died earlier this year at the age of 86.

[@jomac2046]

Robert Duvall as 'Gus' McCrae in "Lonesome Dove.", played a great part and one of his favourite roles... We Don't Rent Pigs

[@donovanmedieval]

@@jomac2046 It was also where I first saw or took notice not onlyFrederick Forest, but Tommy Lee Jones. I had seen parts of The Eyes of Laura Mars, Coalminer's Daughter, and a flopped pirste movie called Nate & Hayes, in which he played one of the title characters (I think my brother saw it in the theater). And I think there might have been something else with him, but Ican't remember right now. I might have seen Frederick Forest in something else before that, but don't remember.. Maybe they were up for some of the same roles.

[@GK-yi4xv]

'Chef' in Apocalypse Now, too.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

RIP Frederick Forrest. Very underrated, yet extremely versatile actor. Played in some classics, including "The Conversation". His performance here was one of the most memorable, though least likeable.

[@randalthor741]

This is a great movie, but yeah, it's dark. I think it's really intentional that there are plenty of moments when you're kind of on D-FENS' side, but there are also plenty of moments when it's really clear that he's very much the bad guy, and not a typical movie bad guy, but the kind of bad guy that anyone could be unlucky enough to run into in real life. I think you're supposed to somewhat identify with him, while also finding him scary and unsettling. It blurs the line and makes his line about "I'm the bad guy? When did that happen?" hit harder.

[@mapesdhs597]

"There but for the grace of God go I." That is indeed the strength of the film, enabling the viewer to ponder as they find themselves sympathising in the early parts of the film, could that happen to anyone? To me? On the bell curve of ability to cope with the stresses of urban living, the two main characters represent the opposite ends of that curve. It's become a very applicable movie, the combination of a character dealing with severe personal/life problems and a society that has degraded to a state of extreme indifference.

[@deg6788]

He wasn't the bad one ..😢

[@Wis_Dom]

@@deg6788 Yes, he was. The shop owner didn't deserve any of his racist remarks, or to have his store destroyed and property stolen.

[@charlize1253]

The movie is a fascinating character study of narcissism: Michael Douglas never understands that anything he does is wrong because, in his mind, he has justifications for everything in which he's always the victim and the world is treating him unfairly. Terrorizing your wife, violating court orders, leaving your car in the road, to a narcissist it's all justified if you had a bad day. The exact archetype of the guy who takes out his frustrations by beating his wife and kicking his dog.

[@anonymes2884]

For sure IMO, we're meant to understand and at least initially even sympathise with "D-Fens" and even by the end I sympathise with him in the sense that he clearly had mental health problems and needed help (as his wife had no doubt tried to tell him many times). But by his own admission he crosses a line. It's not OK to kill people because they get in your way, _even_ when they're shitty racists. It's not OK to terrify and endanger a restaurant full of innocent people because _you_ want breakfast, _even_ when the manager is being an officious, jobsworth dick. Etc. A disturbing number of commenters here seem to see themselves as - or maybe even _aspire to be_ ?? - "D-Fens" when to me we're _clearly_ meant to identify with and/or aspire to be _Prenderghast_ who _also_ has a bad run in life (except as far as we see it's through absolutely _no_ fault of his own) and yet _still_ treats those around him humanely and doesn't lose himself to a narcissistic sense of entitlement.

[@bradlopez5154]

Micheal Douglas’s character is an unemployed defense worker who is frustrated with the various flaws he sees in the society. He begins to crack down and fight back against the everyday injustices that he encounters. A critic mentioned, “The film ... is actually about a great sadness which turns into madness, and which can afflict anyone who is told, after many years of hard work, that he is unnecessary and irrelevant”. From the very first scene I was gripped.

[@Mongo61]

9:33 I think Samantha is right about "John Doe" vs. "John Hancock". One time, a guy at UPS asked me to put my "John Henry" on the signature line. 😳

[@otisroseboro5613]

Hard To Believe It's Been 30 Years Since This Movie Came Out,Time Goes By

[@r4umediaentertainment831]

The whole moment at the end-“I’m the bad guy?…How’d that happen?” followed by that other statement, “I did everything they told me to do,” is so amazing and hits really hard. Side note: when you were both saying at the beginning that you were kind of looking forward to a more light-hearted movie, I pretty much went, “Oh, boy….”

[@DV80s]

Douglas' character may have been going through some stuff externally and internally that was putting pressure on him, but he was also not emotionally balanced. His ex-wife told him he needed help. The guy was headed "home" to kill his family. A guy under pressure doesn't do that, taking out his frustrations on his family. A disturbed person does. We can sympathize with the way people are treating him and how he strikes back, but at the end of his journey he was going "home" and it wasn't to have a nice birthday party with his wife and daughter. Duvall's character knew exactly what the guy was going to do and Douglas' character didn't deny it. He was just not emotionally balanced. The guy needed help.

[@gutz1981]

Society has a tendency of pushing someone to the edge and beyond. He was not fit to be a husband and full time father, but taking his daughter away 100%, what else did they expect this guy to do once he lost his job? The point is, even the least deserving people need some hope, some reason to try and do better. There are those people who do slip throw the cracks, and stomping on them while they are down is not the answer. I mean his daughter was happy to see her daddy, so he never hurt her, so what would have been wrong to allow some form of visitation?

[@squirrelbait64]

You guys are killing it with my 90s favourites right now!

[@herrzimm]

Michael Douglas' deliverance of "I'm the bad guy" is so perfect. On one hand, he is SHOCKED to be considered "the bad guy" when almost every situation he has been through, it was someone else that he saw doing him "wrong" in one way or the other. But at the same time, the realization that he IS the bad guy due to all he did to everyone around him. It is the perfect example of how DEEP the character really is if you break him down into what sort of mental state he had to have been in, not to mention what he was going through AND just how much of it was he really "aware of" or simply "just responding". Overall, it is possibly the best acting performance from one of the great actors of his time. Too bad that this sort of "multiple layered" character stories don't come around as often as you would like to see for actors to sink their teeth into.

[@chemquests]

It’s also applicable to all of us. No one thinks they’re the bad person despite the fact that he was surrounded by ostensibly bad people. The normal level of self awareness is so shockingly low that we’re challenged to question how often we might be the bad guy in our own personal struggles. Great art tends to generate introspection

[@ShawnMurdock-l4e]

This movie is amazing. On a certain level we all can relate to being treated shitty and the old I get the more I can relate to M Douglas. There is so much in this movie. Every time you watch it you will see more, like the background signs. The cop and douglas mirror how different people handle these similar situations. Its also interesting that you picked up on the weapons upgrades - kinda like a video game..

[@roderick8167]

It's crazy that this movie came out 30 years ago and it's still incredibly relevant, hell I will say it's more revelant now than it was when it came out

[@unknownsword9042]

You’d be wrong.

[@kirk1968]

Right? I saw it upon release in my 20s and thought it was interesting, but now in my 50s and with everything that has happened since then, it really is a different perspective.

[@robogreek3157]

Because of our WOKE society today

[@guitarman8462]

The actor who owns the surplus store , was also in the movie " Apocalypse Now ' with Robert Duval , Marlon Brando , Martin Sheen , Dennis Hopper Laurence Fishburn.

[@ecclesrice9789]

And was Blue Duck in Lonesome Dove, the four part Western with Robert Duval

[@Madbandit77]

@@philmakris8507 He passed away earlier this year. He earned an Oscar nomination in the rock & roll drama, "The Rose", with Bette Milder. His second wife was actress Marilu Henner ("Taxi", "Evening Shade").

[@bensneb360]

My dad got a crew cut every spring, and he looked so much like Michael Douglas character, he got the nickname “Falling Down” from his friends lol

[@klatre]

In my opinion the most underrated movie of all time, and one of my very favorites from the 90s. Thanks for this.

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

I think you made a good observation about how Michael Douglas' character, D-Fens, didn't just 'snap'; he was always kind of twisted in his perspective of things. I think that was one of the points that the director was making about how a person can go their entire life following the rules and yet still be someone who is fundamentally incompatible with modern society.

[@Adamas97]

I love this movie. Glad you guys watched it. While listening to your intro I thought, "Oof, They're in for a surprise"

[@MrDeadstu]

"Uh oh, Country Club, these people might deserve it too" 😂 Falling Down is about what many of us think, but do not act on because "we" are sane and civil.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

You summed up the essence of the film more briefly than anyone else here.

[@northernpunx1978]

YES!!!! Why is this movie not reacted to more often?! This movie is pretty wild.

[@SpiralOfWhite]

19:14 SirMixaLot promo had me lol! I only looked because I saw El Pollo Loco and missed their food (I grew up in Cali but live in OK) I saw the sign and then I was confused. "Is that an ass?" Then I saw the promo lol.

[@chrisbullard5901]

To take this film in context, the LA Riots after the Rodney King verdict dropped were happening at the same time this movie was filming (the biker bar in T2 was right down the street from where Rodney King was pulled over just nights before or after). Popo Medic made an awesome video about the “Rooftop Koreans” who fought back during the LA Riots.

[@lexkanyima2195]

But are they had protection during protection ?

[@DrGreenthumbPhd]

@@lexkanyima2195 what?

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@DrGreenthumbPhd they were riots while they were shooting the traffic scene

[@fenix6297]

The title of the movie and repeated theme of London Bridge was a metaphor of D-Fens's character and mental health. Something stable "falling down" and being removed piece by piece until it is in an entirely new place.

[@dunbardunelm3924]

Nice catch! I totally agree 🤗.

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

The scene with the guy with a sign protesting the bank was the best scene in the movie!

[@BulldogMack700rs]

Yess it grips my heart when he says "don't forget me" as he's being taken away

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

@@BulldogMack700rs That part really got to me,

[@bobcobb3654]

5 seconds later, he forgot about him.

[@warrennicholsony.fernando4513]

@@bobcobb3654 Tell that to the script writer.

[@misterprecocious2491]

"Not economically viable"

[@ChrisKing-e3m]

I like the fact we never find out what happened with D-FENS family. Adds to the tension

[@motorcycleboy9000]

"Do Italians live in -- oh!" 😂

[@mmmpotstickers8684]

"...I mean, I wouldn't want you people in my backyard either." That's comedy!!

[@williamcarbajal383]

This just made my evening 😁 Such a great and quotable movie! "I'm going home! Clear a path!"

[@ernestsalazar8026]

This movie hits harder today than it did back then

[@bradleypittman9370]

This movie is like a video game he keeps getting better weapons as he goes lol

[@michaeldavidfigures9842]

Michael Douglas has said this is his most important film. Should definitely have gotten more attention than it did.

[@Acer0980]

It's very much a zeitgeist movie about 90's America from the pov of a person who was born during the post war golden era and whose dreams of a prospering America has been subsequently beaten down by corporatism, consumerism, multiculturalism etc and who is now questioning whether all those sacrifices he made were worth it. He believes that he has done everything right - served his country, worked all his life, payed his taxes etc and now he is unemployed and living with his mother. He doesn't know what went wrong in his life and after all this time snaps. It's a great character study and Michael Douglas plays him beautifully. The movie never really revels in itself either, never glorifies his actions. There is never a sense of cathartic release when he does something, it just gets more and more violent, depressing and dark. The dream of breaking the wheel and lashing out at society might seem nice in your head but in reality it is not some exhilarating action movie with witty one liners and whatnot but just mindless brutality that pulls you deeper and deeper beneath the surface of insanity. Phenomenal movie all around.

[@TigiHof]

A big thumbs up for this perfect summary! So there actually are intelligent KZbin comments, thanks for that!

[@waynebuckland7879]

He was already in a completely low place, no wife, no family, no job, no career having worked and studied hard to get his career in the first place, then the unbearable heat wave was what pushed him over the edge. The shop incident and everything after only raised the situation further. This story was a look at the society of the time, no doubt it's even worse now. Car drivers who get aggressive on the road, ungracious store keepers taking advantage of a customer who needed change, gang members who insist they own their area [public place] despite America being a so-called free country, unemployed people who sponge on others when they could easily put some effort into changing their situation. Companies promising products which are far from what was advertised and delivering crappy customer service as well, Nazi's able to operate a shop in full view and on and on. None of these things are tackle by authorities in any real measure but here he is, done the right thing that society has asked of him. Gone to college, did well, worked hard and for what?

[@hulkslayer626]

"Now you're gonna die wearing that silly little hat" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@amariebloom]

Amazing reaction! Love love the detailed discussion at the end! Great job guys❤

[@ricardomiles2957]

The message of this movie Is so simple yet so impactul. It's so easy to let your impulses to get the best of you, to point the fingers to everything wrong outside your door step that you forget to look inside, start to think you are above everything else or that just because there's something so much worse happening on your street that you think what do at home is unconsequential

[@charlize1253]

The movie is a fascinating character study of narcissism: Michael Douglas never understands that anything he does is wrong because, in his mind, he has justifications for everything in which he's always the victim and the world is treating him unfairly. Terrorizing your wife, violating court orders, leaving your car in the road, to a narcissist it's all justified if you had a bad day

[@davidyoungquist6074]

This movie was so overlooked, and the best thing i ever saw Douglas do. The older you get, the more you can relate to it.

[@Billinois78]

This story made its way into a song 2 years later: "Man on the Edge" by Iron Maiden. The freeway is jammed and it's backed up for miles The car is an oven and baking is wild Nothing is ever the way it should be What we deserve we just don't get, you see A briefcase, a lunch, and a man on the edge Each step gets closer to losing his head Is someone in heaven? Are they looking down? Nothing is fair, just you look around Falling down/Falling down/Falling down Falling down/Falling down/Falling down He's sick of waiting, of lying like this There's a hole in the sky for the angels to kiss Branded a leper because you don't fit In the land of the free you just live by your wits Once he built missiles, a nation's defense Now he can't even give birthday presents Across the city he leaves in his wake A glimpse of the future, a cannibal state Falling down/Falling down/Falling down Falling down/Falling down/Falling down

[@shawnlusby1538]

One of Maiden's most underrated songs! They still perform it live even with Bruce back in the band. They also did another movie inspired song 3 years later, The Clansman, inspired by Braveheart. They also still perform that song live too! Both underrated gems from the unappreciated Blaze Bayley era of the band

[@jamalsmith5073]

His character still had some moral agency. Not just killing everybody he comes across. So the character had waves and levels within him. Not just as simple layered broadly labeling as psycho. Apparently that's what the writers were attempting to depict. The police officer that said "you think" was trying to get a gauge on the threat. Without actual physical violence, it's not much to assess and somebody's temperament can be subjective. The main character was lied to, pushed, antagonized,just a process of cracking down falling down. Not necessarily mental issues but anger just out of control over time.

[@freebirdallen]

(1) Falling Down is one of my favorite movies! I missed watching it at the cinema but had it on VHS. (2) Rachel Ticotin who played Sandra was the female corrections officer in Con Air & Melina in the original Total Recall (3) I work as an over the road truck driver & I will get on the cb radio to say clear a path I'm going home. (4) I think many of the scenarios were portrayed quite accurately. Law enforcement used to downplay domestic violence cases until someone was badly hurt or killed.

[@lennyvalentin6485]

Oh and by the way, speaking of how this is a really dark movie: Prendergast actually alludes to the possibility his wife might have suffocated/murdered their daughter. So yeah, pretty dark.

[@erikjohnson3859]

The people who don't sympathize with him AND the people who do sympathize with him both worry me. And yes, I recognize that contradiction. People worry me.

[@tastyneck]

Exactly.

[@dre3k78]

Yeah i think that was the overall theme of the movie.

[@derekdecker555]

Yup I think if this movie has a message it’s that people are mostly awful. He’s awful, everyone he meets is awful, most of the cops are awful and they’re all being awful to each other.

[@tastyneck]

@@derekdecker555 YUP. We empathize with him in the beginning because we've all been frustrated by similar things. But he's also an unreliable narrator and you realize he's not a victim of society. He's the cause of his own victimization and he's estranged from his family for a very good reason. It's weird that people are saying he's a victim about this character and comparing him to the Joker. They're both clearly sociopaths. If anything, they're victims of the lack of mental health services we have and are not sympathetic in any way outside of that, at least to me. Nobody but themselves caused them to snap. We just didn't do enough to prevent that.

[@t.c.thompson2359]

I sympathize with him about being screwed over by his job, I don't for anything else he does. He is just entitled, and was to up his own ass to see he was being lied to.

[@monalisasmile6629]

The actress you thought looked familiar, is Rachel Ticotin. You may recognise her from Total Recall and Con Air.

[@jimtatro6550]

Michael Douglas won an Oscar for best actor in Wall Street, he wasn’t even nominated for this movie and to me it’s a better role. In fact, I think it’s his greatest role ever.

[@cellyblank9919]

This movie is a serious look at the mental health of men effected by relationships and environment. Robert Duval's character has a safe, steady job with some good friends and a home where he is needed. Michael Douglas' character has no friends, no job, he put all his efforts into his marriage but that is also the reason he couldn't relax and it failed. Aa a young man I was entertained by the humor, violence and bravado but was devastated that in the end he would kill his wife and daughter; there was no epiphany, no character shift. Unfortunately it's all too common these days.

[@timvanarsdel]

Keep in mind re: the violence and cruelty and vast human ugliness during the early 90's... It was a topic in the book Freakonomics and touched upon in an episode of Orange is the New Black --- all the data was showing a rising spike in crime in cities throughout the US. But around 93 or 94, the spike tapered off and crime began to go downward. And what Freakonomics points to is the passing of Roe v. Wade in 74: that all these babies that would've been born in poverty and desperation and grow up into young violent adults never came to be and never came to maturation ~18 years later. But you'll see in these gritty early 90s flicks that try to mirror reality just this sheer nastiness at the fore.

[@contraryMV]

I have a lighthearted movie suggestion to recover from movies like this one: Breaking Away from the 70's. Love your reactions, btw. Great analysis.

[@okeefe757]

Robert Duvall's female coworker, Rachel Ticotin was Arnold's true love interest, Melina in Total Recall.

[@gregall2178]

I think they may have recognized her from Con Air ;-)

[@okeefe757]

@@gregall2178true

[@Zorak9595]

Oooooooh.. that's where I recognize her from.

[@Nymphonomicon]

It's not a comedy, but there is ironic funny moments and a bit of social commentary here and there. And good for you noticing the guy with the sign, he's supposed to show a parallel with our lead character, down to them being dressed the same.

[@anthonyferguson9282]

This and "The Game" are my two favorite Michael Douglas movies.

[@st3wi3D]

If you notice... almost everything and everyone in this movie is "Falling Down" to some degree. Instability is everywhere. I think that was what the script is trying to convey.

[@shainewhite2781]

This is a crazy movie right here. Its almost my dad's favorite films as well. He saw this on TNT in 2004, and says that a film like this is pretty relevant to this day with greed, consumerism, commercialism, the economy, racism, homelessness, and poverty. Michael Douglas has said in na interview that this is one of his favorite movies in his own filmography. This was even filmed during the 1992 Los Angeles Race Riots.

[@Britcarjunkie]

They were just riots: race was simply an excuse to do it. It was everybody, not just one ethnicity that was rioting.

[@crankfastle8138]

It was a race riot. It was literally described as such in the news and was spurred on by the racist rhetoric by the officers who beat Rodney king.

[@hebber1961]

Sounds like a vision of things from one side of the political divide.

[@daftrok]

Ironically, the original writers for the script couldn't get anyone to take it because it wasn't "economically viable" until Michael Douglas, a super star, endorsed the movie. Also was shot during the LA riots.

[@davidz3879]

This film is brilliant, yet most people I mention it to haven't heard of it.

[@davidz3879]

@@Dave-hb7lx How could it be improved?

[@commonsensei8423]

The movie initially makes you think the Nazi and "D-Fens"(?) (Michael Douglas's character) will be on the same side. But while D-Fens is anti-immigrant and conservative, he's not really sympathetic to the Nazis. And you still get that today, where people conflate conservatives with weirdoes like that (even the Nazi store owner assumed they were on the same side).

[@HappyHarryHardon]

This movie speaks to more people than you can imagine.

[@fan-i-am]

Michael Douglas wasn't the villain in this. He was the antagonist. Also, I think he leaned more towards sociopath than psychopath. Purely for the reason that he doesn't think/realise that he's a bad guy. Then again, I'm not qualified to diagnose, so...

[@dante340]

The film is essentially a social commentary (similar to the likes of Fight Club, Taxi Driver, American Psycho, etc), it's not meant to be taken super literally. That's why all of the characters Bill interacts with are so cartoonishly over-the-top, they're each intended to represent some sort of societal flaw. At least, flaws as seen through eyes of the bitter, disillusioned working man.

[@silafuyang8675]

One of the best movies ever made. Unique message.

[@bdog1323]

That car he was driving was a good second car "clunker" to have during my college days. Sometimes that line would work with the ladies to meet them when I'd tell them, "you wanna take a ride in my Vette"? Some were good sports and enjoyed the humor & some did not when they found out it was really a Chevette. Ah, those club days back in NY.

[@JH-lo9ut]

I love the detail when D-Fens looks through the hole in his shoe, it gives you two clues about this guy: He's the kind of guy who wears real leather-soled shoes... And, he has not had them re-soled in a long time. Leather soled shoes are luxurious and expensive. The leather will wear through though and you'll get holes like that if you don't have them regularely mended by a professional shoemaker or cobbler. It's a clue that this guy used to be someone. He clings to his former self-image, but he can't afford that lifestyle anymore, and it is all falling apart.

[@PHARRAWAY]

can you guys do La Bamba

[@Popdaddy88]

I always felt like this movie was the inspiration for “Breaking Bad “. There are SO many parallels between them that don’t seem to be coincidences to me, especially the main character’s descent into what he thinks is justifiable evil.

[@mattmorrison1548]

I think people miss a big point of this movie. Yes Bill is sick, but so is our society. Was Bill just born that way? Or did society make him that way?

[@SB0780]

Part of the movie you missed was the era and what was happening at the time, the term "too highly educated but under-skilled - not economically viable" means something.

[@IcanhearClemFandango]

I think you guys misinterpreted the scene between the wife and the cop. It's showing that he never actually did anything wrong. She accused him of being violent when he wasn't, and after a divorce and enough stress, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. This whole film is like the proverb that the child who gets no love from the village will burn it down to feel the warmth.

[@Vincent8190X]

Iron Maiden made a song about this movie. A Man on the Edge. It's how I figured out X-Factor songs were movies.

[@freshsmilely]

to this day one of the most underrated movies ever.

[@tg925b]

Fun fact nobody asked for - young female employee at the burger joint was played by Deidre Pfeifer, Michelle Pfeifer's younger sister.

[@iMatthew98]

"Take some shooting lessons asshole" Great line!

[@theaikidoka]

"Boy, we've been watching some dark and sad movies lately. Can't wait for this laugh-a-minute action movie that won our poll!" Uuuuuhhhh, oh man, I have some bad news.

[@shanenolan5625]

The lady police officer. She was the journalist in ( man on fire ) you guys watched recently She was in ( total recall) with Arnold as well

[@johnheale6000]

Con air

[@autowaagh99]

The older you get the more you can relate to the Character.

[@milesisediting]

If you relate to this man, pls get therapy

[@LenOliver-yz6os]

Facts!!!!

[@crankfastle8138]

Relate how? We all deal with dumb people and life's inconveniences. If your reaction is anger and violence I would suggest talking with a doctor. I unfortunately relate with him too much, but ironically I find myself so much angrier at him in this movie.

[@punklover99]

​@@milesiseditingdon't tell me what to do

[@PeacefulJoint]

​@@the-NightStarsay frankly more 🌈 slur

[@CollideFan1]

Bill kept leveling up like in a video game. Shirt and tie with just his hands. Progress to bat, knife, guns and military get up. 😂 But a dark movie that you may relate to when you get older. One of Micheal's best characters

[@pablom-f8762]

Best GTA movie ever?!?

[@Madbandit77]

I noticed that too. Some films like this one, "The Warriors" and "They Live", come off as video games in the happenstance.

[@kirk1968]

Well said!

[@rancosteel]

Racheal Ticotin was in Total Recall from 1990.