except that D-Fense was known for having a bad temper, so much so that his mother is afraid of him, his wife has a restraining order on him, and he's been fired a month ago. This is not a "one bad day" scenario
Wasn't his fault. not every director can do every genre and style. There were only a couple of good superhero movies by that time, the studios' clear goal was to sell toys and get the movie done as quickly as possible, they chose successful actors and the director, but had terrible story and script and again they didn't care about the film quality. Even tho he's actually a good director, he had no business directing a superhero film, he had absolutely clue what he was doing. You can keep hating him for 1 movie or you can check out some of his work from before and after that piece of shit and you'll see. Here are some suggestions: Phone Booth, The Phantom of The Opera, Falling Down, The Lost Boys
Such A SAD and powerful moment when Bill says "I'm the bad guy?" Just that look of bewilderment and sadness in his eyes when he's almost lucid and sees all the damage he's done. GREAT film.
I'm only 10 minutes into the review so this may still come up, but I always find the scene with the guy protesting outside the bank to be the most impactful. Both the protestor and Douglas are dressed the same, drawing parallels between them and the fate that awaits them. The message is so potent and relevant even now.
As bad as he was, to me, his wife played her part in his break down as well. Its one thing to want to get away from him, but to forcefully by law keep him away from his daughter was too far. By the end when the daughter smiled when she saw him, you can see that she cared for him and was not afraid or scared as though he was an abusive father. But the mother made sure he was completely out of her life. Even if she wanted distance between her ex husband, what she did in taking away his daughter with no visitation rights was in my eyes what made HER the "Bad Guy". It was her birthday for heavens sake and he was still not allowed to see her. Well done legal system, these are the "Monsters" you help create.
Note that I don't think D-fens was going to kill the wife or especially the child based upon his remarks throughout the film where he told the groundskeeper that it was inconceivable to him to hurt a child (when the child saw blood on his hands from climbing a razor wire fence.) He threatened to kill his wife for her insolence towards him
Hey, his wife was well within her rights! His fatherhood is obsolete. William Foster should just move on and make dozens more illegitimate children forcing them and their mothers to suckle off the welfare system for 18 years like a normal American man.
Great review fellas, of an underrated gem of a flick. Joel Schumacher has directed loads of good movies, it's a shame most people only seem to remember him for Batman & Robin, as he's a versatile director.
I'm genuinely frightened by how much I relate to this movie. Not just the hot takes on consumer rights and traditional values, but just the sheer callous nature of the times. And the struggle of having motive placed on you that isn't there, simply from your mannerisms or tone of voice. There's just no empathy anymore, it seems. Nobody listens. Nobody cares. Nobody gives a shit about your mental well being until there's some kind of threat implied, and then they only 'care' in that they want you removed. Out of sight, out of mind. Back to business as usual. Having dealt with depression and anxiety all my life, I can sadly report that the only time anyone cared about it was when I said I felt suicidal at work. People sat with me and talked, actually seemed like I wasn't alone. And then once it was established that I wasn't gonna shoot up the place, they gave me a bunch of phone numbers to call and then pretty much booted me out. So I don't think this guy is in the right, but I get it.
@@TwoAyemlol "joker's" real critique of society isn't as obvious or even that big as at the end of the film the joker himself dances with the same people that he was ignored by at the beginning of the film. With his dance (instead of resentment towards the masses of people) in the end the critique of society is forgotten and joker's mental illness is outlined. That's why, like you, I think that this film is more critical of today's world.
@@LeolaGlamour You mean what causes people to reach that breaking point-- Society. This is a classic man VS nature, with the city and people he lives amongst, the socioeconomics of the time period, defining nature.
A fine in-depth discussion of a still-relevant movie. It's fascinating that Falling Down can draw so many interpretations from so many people. It's exaggerated and over-the-top at times, but it's real enough that it pushes people's buttons. What I take away from it is in one of Prendergast's last lines: "You have a choice." You can stop yourself before you go too far. It's true that society is a pressure cooker: it's ugly, it's absurd, it rewards the wrong people, and it pushes our emotions to levels that we, as simple human beings, often cannot handle. Still, as much as we'd love to lash out in our frustration, the consequences, both societal and personal, are too severe to consider. The reason that Prendergast is right and Foster is wrong is that Prendergast takes responsibility for his lot, no matter how easy it might be to blame the world around him. I'm sure a lot of folks would like to cry and moan about having an asshole boss, jerk-off co-workers, and a bitchy wife, but Prendergast doesn't sit still and blame them for his troubles. He steps up. It's easy to admire Foster and root for him because he does what we only fantasize about, but we must also remember that his actions have doomed him. Even if he had made a different choice at the end of the film, there was no way things would be the same for him again.
Thanks a million mates! I was one of the people requesting you to review Falling Down (sent request a few months ago), so glad to see you got around to it. Brilliant review as always!
Fascinating discussion about a fascinating movie. I think most adults who've seen it have struggled with those same conflicting thoughts. He appears to just want to do the right thing, and we get behind him and root for him. But he's clearly gone beyond the pale. To the point where he's not the least bit afraid to die (the drive-by scene), because he feels he's got nothing to live for. Btw, MD's personal favorite of his own films. ✌
I knew someone who had "William Foster's" life in California. He was a typical high school nerd, from his slide rule to his plain clothes, to his naivete. In college, he studied engineering and eventually found his niche in the California high tech life at an aeronautical research company. He married, started a family, bought a house and had the American Dream. Then the California high tech downturn found him on the street, trying to hold it together as he looked for a job in the industry. This went on for a while, but eventually he sold the house and the family moved to Texas in search of the "Silicon Prairie." The last time I heard, he was working at Home Depot, keeping his sunny side up. He didn't lose his cool, alienate his family, or lose hope. I wish him well, in whatever he does.
A great opening...Wayne Fitzgerald did this. Paul Hirsch, the Oscar winner who cut this picture and he did a great job on "Falling Down." This is his only collaboration with Joel Schumacher. Most of the cast & crew who worked well on this picture. Released in March 1993 by Warner Bros/20th Century Fox.
Although Warner Bros distributed in the US and Canada as a cult following until 2007 - Buena Vista finally took over as an sole distributor on most of the company's based television & feature film libraries in 2011: Regency Enterprises, Kopelson Entertainment, Keith Barish Productions, Burt Sugarman Productions, Ann Margret Productions and Cartier Productions.
The film is, in many ways, about the anger we carry inside ourselves and how we express it. how it is important to be able to assert yourself, to occasionally vent anger, and how if you fail in controlling it it will control you. How when you fail to reign yourself in, it can damage others, innocent bystanders blind sided by your rage. The world is a wild place, and it can drive you mad, and that's where the pleasure of the film comes in, identifying with the protagonist, living vicariously through him as he rages in the moments you wished to but did not. But how much is too much, and what is the price we pay for that rage? Michael Douglas is not the hero, nor is he entirely the villain. He's a man, with flaws, who fell to the power of his rage, unable to get back up.
James Mc Yea, it's easy to see how at least initially he's acting as a sort of hero of the people. The film has the feel of a great tragedy as a result. I love it. awesome film.
13:28, what you just describe was "thought crime". D-Fense never hit the wife and she manages to not only divorce him but also kept him away from his daughter. Even good men or even mentally stable would go nuts if your ex-wife prevented you from your child over a flimsy accusation. Him being told off by his ex-wife and not allowed to see his daughter pushed him to a point of no return. And oh yeah, i highly doubt he would kill his wife and daughter. He just wanted to say his final good bye and prepared himself for "suicide by cop" and get the insurance money for his daughter.
he was still verbally abusive an i as a parent would never stay with a man or woman who talked like that an no one should he wasnt a evil person but he was bad he was a ticking time bomb you cannot stay with someone who has the risk of exploding an blowing your head off its to risky he diddnt just get mad he was very verbally abusive an demanding his state of mind would prevent him from ever being a good father he wasnt evil just mentally unstable an when he decides to unleash in the film he slowly becomes the bad guy an what he hates the wife should have allowed him supervised visits though so she isnt perfect either
BoomStick Critique Facist and communist love to put people in "protective custody" and arresting people for "precrime". There was never any indication in the movie that she even tried to have "couple counselling". If I followed your or this female's character mentality, Over 80% of couples would be divorced over 90% of the population would be imprison to protect peopls from "potential" crime
nodinitiative the point is though we dont know what she may have tried we can only go by the film an what it gives us its true she isnt totally innocent but he isnt a good father he was a time bomb an the majority of people man or woman would not stay with someone who talks like that an its obvious he kept doing it he was mentally unstable since before the film started the message of the film is he isnt a evil man but he has become the bad guy because he has become an extremist an took things to far especially after he murders a man he diddnt have to the wife was acting out of anger toward him by taking the child completly to herself she isnt innocent but he is still worse he would never have hurt his child but he would have prolly in the future may have hurt his wife as a parent you just cant go by what a person may do you have to see who they are an no woman would put up with a man who talked like that
It's tough to say whether Foster really planned to kill Beth and Adele. I think he was ready to. He spent a good part of the movie scaring Beth, telling her that it was still legal to kill a spouse in some countries. When he met her on the pier, he used the "Till Death to Us Part" line while staring Beth down, and then drew his pistol. He only put it down when he saw Adele, whom he said would never be taken away from him again. It's open to interpretation, of course, but I think the movie gave us quite a few hints. It's tough to believe that about him because his character is relatable in many ways, but we must remember that his actions have not been the actions of a healthy man.
I agree. Foster was mentally unstable, and I do think he was ready to kill his wife and child. I think most viewers resist that notion because they relate to him on some level, and don't want to accept that they've been rooting for someone whose actions reflect serious internal problems. For them, killing Beth and Adele is a step too far, but they forget that Foster has already crossed some very repugnant lines.
Society is the bad guy. Foster decides to fight back against society which he believes has wronged him. At the same time Pendergast decides to fight within society's confines and does his duty as a cop to bring Foster, who has gone too far, to justice. This is truly an underated film. Perhaps one of the best movies in the last 30 yrs.
i saw this one night when I was about 12. spent the next few years trying to figure out what it was called so i could.watch it again. absolutely brilliant movie
Falling Down is one of my favourite movies from the 90's. I first saw it when i was in my teens and thought it was a great exploration of a guy having a bad day...a really bad day. Now i'm in my 40's i see Michael Douglas's character as a man who's life is completely pushed him over the edge into a mental breakdown with severe consequences for himself and everyone he comes into contact with on his travels. Great movie, great review. Cheers guys.
This movie has been a favorite of mine and I never put the song London Bridge is falling down and the title of the movie together. Ever. Until watching this review. How did I miss that?
Early 90s was a great time for movies set in LA, interestingly enough. Falling Down, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction to name a few... granted, three of them can be attributed to Tarantino's involvement. :P
Excellent review of this hidden gem! One of my favorite movies of all time. Great break down and analysis. Also, special shout out to Dedee Pfeiffer as the Whammy Burger girl - you can call me Ms. Fulsom if you like. Yes, that's Michelle Pfeiffer's sister!
One of the best and most underrated movies out there! I catch it every now and again and each time I am left morbidly depressed but know I will watch it again next time the opportunity comes...
I tip my hat to you good Sir.Enjoy your review of the selective films. Love both of you gents on your commentary and reflections. Serious but funny at the same time . Thank you again for your review.
When this movie was released, it was a toned down version of the original script - they turned D-Fense into a clearly bad guy toward the end in order to turn this movie more "PC".
great juxtaposition analysis on Prendergast and Foster. one is fired, the other is resigning.. one wants to see his wife who doesn't want to see him, the other's wife wants to see him immediately.. one wants to go home, the other can wait to go home..
In regards to the fast food scene, it stuck in the corner of my brain every time I went to fast food joints. Every time the burgers were flat and pathetic. It wasn’t until the late nineties that fast food joints began improving the presentation of their food. Now it’s over the top with whipped cream and cherries on the shakes
Great video! I just watched this movie again. It really is a masterpiece. There is drama, dark humor, some light humor, things we can relate to day to day and ambiguity- yeah, Bill was a bad guy but he certainly had outside forces to assist making him that way. A lot of times he would have left people alone but people had to get in his face.
Film is 23yr old at the time of this review. "we are talking 1993. We are almost talking 20yrs this film has been out for." As soon as that clock changed to the year 2000, time just sped up
Truly one of the best films of the 90s. Joel Schumacher was a great director.....It is a shame that Batman And Robin would forever taint his reputation, as the good films he had under his belt far outweighed the bad
With all the political ideologies going on today. And the wide range of insane topics constantly shoved down our throats...poor Defnse Foster, oh how I would love to see how he would react to all of this😂😂😂😂
This is one of my fav movies. One of my fav movies of that year. My fav Michael Douglas movie. The older and older I get the more I understand him. My 2nd fav late Joel S film after A time to Kill. When he destroys the shop is one of my fav scenes.
Love this one. I saw it on Canal+ when i was 14 or 15 or so. Realy loved it straight away. Every time i hear the Iron Maiden song, Man on the edge. I see Micheal Douglas with a bat in LA.
Another spot on review and good precautionary word to teen and pre teen (?) potential audiences. You’re right. It’s a huge leap for a fully developed adult brain to go from empathy or sympathy to romanticism or full canonization of this very dangerous bomb of an unstable man, the actions of whom no one can predict thus the words ‘dangerous bomb’ Maybe we who have lived longer have experienced or witnessed at least the torture of a violence that while remaining within the law truly constitutes violence in the results of profound indecency of man towards his fellow man. And until it is an actual crime where punishment sneaks justice through, we can feel empathy without wanting to emulate this particular unraveling which will do nothing to right the wrong and instead damage societal awareness. Possibly punish individual awareness and delay societal awareness indefinitely. This isn’t something that young audiences are going to understand (hopefully not) and I’d be afraid that they would fail to see how this tortured man is enjoying absolutely none of it. Although only brilliant talent like a Michael Douglas’ could deliver lines in such a way that get a smile out of the decency in the audience as well as whatever other elements in them are moved. Enough said. I keep trying to un muddy it up . Anyway you guys are very good indeed
on a more serious note, this went quite I'm depth into bill fosters psyche and I recently find myself in a similar situation but with a different outlook. Failed relationship, lost job, back at mum's (with a lockdown as well) but have sought help, not bought any guns and make sure I get to MacDonalds at 9am if I want a breakfast, nowhere near 1030.
You guys are fairly young. The one point you miss is that in that era, the stigma was 10 as strong as today for mental health problems, especially for men. It was a 'suck it up and carry on' society. It was rare for people to go for help until they reached that point of no return and still he'd have likely been jailed or put to the death penalty more often than having been put in a mental institution. This was also 10 years post Ronald Reagan who shut down most of the institutions. Most were awful places, but the alternative was that the mentally ill ultimately became the explosion of the US homeless population, and is still that way today.
I feel not much sympathy for D-Fense. All that he does, brought some kind of suffering to people involved. From the people in the restaurant, to his ex-wife and especially daughter, and then the police-officer having to kill someone on his very last day ... D-Fense is an asshole in the need for help. He could have asked for help, but probably was too delusional and proud and arrogant about his own sanity that it never even occurred to him. I can only imagine how the time with him was for his family. His wife surely was not the reason for the divorce, doesn'T feel like that. He brought his demise on himself. Maybe its just his personality, or it slowly changed to this due to losing his job or whatever - but there is never an excuse to go on a rampage. Never. If you think your life sucks, at least don't affect the lives of others negatively...except for white nazi supremacist. If you run amok, at least target assholes like that ... ^^
Finally saw this last night. Awesome movie but understandable why there was backlash and the fact no major studio wanted to take the risk based on the screenplay. Makes you wonder how many unique and provocative scripts are sitting in the Rejected pile. One thing seen in the bac ground, that always makes me laugh is the Sir Mixalot Baby Got Back litteral giant inflatable buttocks. Seen in the phone booth shoot up part. @16:30 I didn't realize that nice detail in terms of costumes. Dressing the bank protester in the same attire as D-Fens. As far as the Surplus store scene, I'd think a judge would rule either man slaughter, or 2nd degree murder.
Hi guys, great review. I knew you'd see it for what it is, rather than hold Douglas' character up upon a pedestal ( like maybe some fans of De Palma's Scarface do). I know people who view Douglas' character as some kind of "hero" or "anti-hero" and they think the same way about Travis Bickle. I always thought of Bickle as a grey area "bad guy" of the piece, rather than some kind of white knight super hero who saved "innocent" Jodie Foster from the bad guys (who ARE bad of course). It's why I hold Taxi Driver in such high regard, as it's full of nuance and flawed characters across the board. To think of Travis Bickle, or anyone else in that movie (within obvious reason) as plainly, GOOD or BAD is to miss the point I guess. And Falling Down is very similar I feel. Have you guys seen the new Twin Peaks and all the mind-bending craziness that it brings with it? I'd love to hear what you made of it all and what you felt it meant to YOU, rather than someone trying to find an (impossible) "answer" to it all.
Wonderful movie with Michael Douglas as 'bad' guy (like in 'War of Roses' ?) at his best. I will miss all these wonderful actors of the late 20th century. Who will ever be able to replace them ? And i'm already missing the depth in today's movies.
The real issue with the Coke can is not that it's overpriced. It's that he needs the change to call his ex-wife. One aspect of the movie I love BTW is how all the weapons he uses are just things he picks up along the way. Even the water gun at the end is his daughter's. None of it is pre-meditated. So it's really a sort of Anti-Hero's Journey.
Another top review chaps, you are required cult viewing. If is was the 1980s you would likely have you own late night TV show on Channel 4! Keep 'em coming...
This movie and the Office space show up the things of the real world without trying to shape the picture in the fake Hollywood way of messing up the screen play to be more likable. D-fence was the good guy in world of the bad guys, who was mentally sick and abuse those who he love. At the phone call, he know it, he pass that point of no return. Is only rampage and getting to his daughter now. When the Duvall character tell him that he would kill his girl and (ex)-wife, that not true, that man love then, he won't even touch them ever (the conversation with the wife and the cop). If nothing else, that movie make us look at the bigger picture of the world we live.
Thanks for this great review, and I've subscribed to your channel. But one character point: If Michael Douglas' character worked for a defense contractor, doesn't it seem likely that he'd know how to operate a rocket launcher? Like we'd say Stark Industries is a defense contractor of a sort, and Tony Stark seems to have a basic knowledge of how his company's products work. But yes, great film. I was in college at the time it was released and saw it with an older friend, who characterized it as "Good concept, but poorly done." (I disagree).
One of Michael Douglas's best performances ever and one of my all time favourite films
Brainiac19 84 Agreed and same here
Brainiac19 84 me to but disclosure..black rain and wallstreet us up there to
christopher krause Black Rain was awesome
Agreed👍
D-Fense's day in Falling Down is literally the explaination for the Jokers "one bad day" comment.
except that D-Fense was known for having a bad temper, so much so that his mother is afraid of him, his wife has a restraining order on him, and he's been fired a month ago. This is not a "one bad day" scenario
I think it's a build up of a lot more than one day, I think it's years of anger.
I still can't believe this movie was directed by Joel Schumacher, a truly unique film.
Phonebooth wasn't so bad either. He also directed two House Of Cards episodes.
Why not, he's quite a good director
+Shape Shifter Batman an robin. nuff' said
Wasn't his fault. not every director can do every genre and style. There were only a couple of good superhero movies by that time, the studios' clear goal was to sell toys and get the movie done as quickly as possible, they chose successful actors and the director, but had terrible story and script and again they didn't care about the film quality. Even tho he's actually a good director, he had no business directing a superhero film, he had absolutely clue what he was doing. You can keep hating him for 1 movie or you can check out some of his work from before and after that piece of shit and you'll see. Here are some suggestions: Phone Booth, The Phantom of The Opera, Falling Down, The Lost Boys
+Shape Shifter mate, I was just saying he isn't perfect
Such A SAD and powerful moment when Bill says "I'm the bad guy?" Just that look of bewilderment and sadness in his eyes when he's almost lucid and sees all the damage he's done. GREAT film.
The Ex-wife is the real villain
@@raymondsolisjr.1262 Yup like Lori from Falling Down lol
I'm only 10 minutes into the review so this may still come up, but I always find the scene with the guy protesting outside the bank to be the most impactful. Both the protestor and Douglas are dressed the same, drawing parallels between them and the fate that awaits them. The message is so potent and relevant even now.
As bad as he was, to me, his wife played her part in his break down as well. Its one thing to want to get away from him, but to forcefully by law keep him away from his daughter was too far. By the end when the daughter smiled when she saw him, you can see that she cared for him and was not afraid or scared as though he was an abusive father. But the mother made sure he was completely out of her life. Even if she wanted distance between her ex husband, what she did in taking away his daughter with no visitation rights was in my eyes what made HER the "Bad Guy". It was her birthday for heavens sake and he was still not allowed to see her. Well done legal system, these are the "Monsters" you help create.
If you mass shoot someone, you’re not stable. Lots of guys can’t see their kids they don’t go around killing people.
Note that I don't think D-fens was going to kill the wife or especially the child based upon his remarks throughout the film where he told the groundskeeper that it was inconceivable to him to hurt a child (when the child saw blood on his hands from climbing a razor wire fence.) He threatened to kill his wife for her insolence towards him
Hey, his wife was well within her rights! His fatherhood is obsolete. William Foster should just move on and make dozens more illegitimate children forcing them and their mothers to suckle off the welfare system for 18 years like a normal American man.
Be that as it may, it is still wrong what he does.
The guy spends the entire movie on a violent rampage and your take is "Keeping the daughter away from him is going too far!"
Bro.
Great review fellas, of an underrated gem of a flick. Joel Schumacher has directed loads of good movies, it's a shame most people only seem to remember him for Batman & Robin, as he's a versatile director.
I'm genuinely frightened by how much I relate to this movie. Not just the hot takes on consumer rights and traditional values, but just the sheer callous nature of the times. And the struggle of having motive placed on you that isn't there, simply from your mannerisms or tone of voice. There's just no empathy anymore, it seems. Nobody listens. Nobody cares. Nobody gives a shit about your mental well being until there's some kind of threat implied, and then they only 'care' in that they want you removed. Out of sight, out of mind. Back to business as usual.
Having dealt with depression and anxiety all my life, I can sadly report that the only time anyone cared about it was when I said I felt suicidal at work. People sat with me and talked, actually seemed like I wasn't alone. And then once it was established that I wasn't gonna shoot up the place, they gave me a bunch of phone numbers to call and then pretty much booted me out.
So I don't think this guy is in the right, but I get it.
Hollywood is so lame these days that you just couldnt make a film like this now
joker
@@TwoAyemlol "joker's" real critique of society isn't as obvious or even that big as at the end of the film the joker himself dances with the same people that he was ignored by at the beginning of the film. With his dance (instead of resentment towards the masses of people) in the end the critique of society is forgotten and joker's mental illness is outlined. That's why, like you, I think that this film is more critical of today's world.
Nothing lame about that... The entire premise of this movie is pure trash.
They didn’t want to do it then if not for michael douglas
great review, however, this movie is a reflection on society, and therefore society is the bad guy.
Jet Sidhu It’s a reflection of real life killers, and how they get to that point of breaking. It’s not that complicated.
@@LeolaGlamour You mean what causes people to reach that breaking point-- Society. This is a classic man VS nature, with the city and people he lives amongst, the socioeconomics of the time period, defining nature.
@@squirrelmanyt6069 society is pretty shitty to me, I don't go around murdering people.
We live in a society
@strontiumXnitrate im sorry but you are such an asshole, stfu
Guys, this is your best review to date.
Thought their Robocop review was one of their best too
A fine in-depth discussion of a still-relevant movie. It's fascinating that Falling Down can draw so many interpretations from so many people. It's exaggerated and over-the-top at times, but it's real enough that it pushes people's buttons. What I take away from it is in one of Prendergast's last lines: "You have a choice." You can stop yourself before you go too far. It's true that society is a pressure cooker: it's ugly, it's absurd, it rewards the wrong people, and it pushes our emotions to levels that we, as simple human beings, often cannot handle. Still, as much as we'd love to lash out in our frustration, the consequences, both societal and personal, are too severe to consider.
The reason that Prendergast is right and Foster is wrong is that Prendergast takes responsibility for his lot, no matter how easy it might be to blame the world around him. I'm sure a lot of folks would like to cry and moan about having an asshole boss, jerk-off co-workers, and a bitchy wife, but Prendergast doesn't sit still and blame them for his troubles. He steps up.
It's easy to admire Foster and root for him because he does what we only fantasize about, but we must also remember that his actions have doomed him. Even if he had made a different choice at the end of the film, there was no way things would be the same for him again.
Thanks a million mates! I was one of the people requesting you to review Falling Down (sent request a few months ago), so glad to see you got around to it. Brilliant review as always!
This is one of my favorite movies from my teenage years, great review guys.
Fascinating discussion about a fascinating movie. I think most adults who've seen it have struggled with those same conflicting thoughts. He appears to just want to do the right thing, and we get behind him and root for him. But he's clearly gone beyond the pale. To the point where he's not the least bit afraid to die (the drive-by scene), because he feels he's got nothing to live for. Btw, MD's personal favorite of his own films. ✌
I knew someone who had "William Foster's" life in California. He was a typical high school nerd, from his slide rule to his plain clothes, to his naivete. In college, he studied engineering and eventually found his niche in the California high tech life at an aeronautical research company. He married, started a family, bought a house and had the American Dream. Then the California high tech downturn found him on the street, trying to hold it together as he looked for a job in the industry. This went on for a while, but eventually he sold the house and the family moved to Texas in search of the "Silicon Prairie." The last time I heard, he was working at Home Depot, keeping his sunny side up. He didn't lose his cool, alienate his family, or lose hope. I wish him well, in whatever he does.
A great opening...Wayne Fitzgerald did this. Paul Hirsch, the Oscar winner who cut this picture and he did a great job on "Falling Down." This is his only collaboration
with Joel Schumacher. Most of the cast & crew who worked well on this picture. Released in March 1993 by Warner Bros/20th Century Fox.
Although Warner Bros distributed in the US and Canada as a cult following until 2007 - Buena Vista finally took over as an sole distributor on
most of the company's based television & feature film libraries in 2011: Regency Enterprises, Kopelson Entertainment,
Keith Barish Productions, Burt Sugarman Productions, Ann Margret Productions and Cartier Productions.
The film is, in many ways, about the anger we carry inside ourselves and how we express it. how it is important to be able to assert yourself, to occasionally vent anger, and how if you fail in controlling it it will control you. How when you fail to reign yourself in, it can damage others, innocent bystanders blind sided by your rage. The world is a wild place, and it can drive you mad, and that's where the pleasure of the film comes in, identifying with the protagonist, living vicariously through him as he rages in the moments you wished to but did not. But how much is too much, and what is the price we pay for that rage? Michael Douglas is not the hero, nor is he entirely the villain. He's a man, with flaws, who fell to the power of his rage, unable to get back up.
James Mc Yea, it's easy to see how at least initially he's acting as a sort of hero of the people. The film has the feel of a great tragedy as a result. I love it. awesome film.
With this film and lost boys I will have respect for Joel Schumacher as a director.
13:28, what you just describe was "thought crime". D-Fense never hit the wife and she manages to not only divorce him but also kept him away from his daughter. Even good men or even mentally stable would go nuts if your ex-wife prevented you from your child over a flimsy accusation. Him being told off by his ex-wife and not allowed to see his daughter pushed him to a point of no return. And oh yeah, i highly doubt he would kill his wife and daughter. He just wanted to say his final good bye and prepared himself for "suicide by cop" and get the insurance money for his daughter.
he was still verbally abusive an i as a parent would never stay with a man or woman who talked like that an no one should he wasnt a evil person but he was bad he was a ticking time bomb you cannot stay with someone who has the risk of exploding an blowing your head off its to risky he diddnt just get mad he was very verbally abusive an demanding his state of mind would prevent him from ever being a good father he wasnt evil just mentally unstable an when he decides to unleash in the film he slowly becomes the bad guy an what he hates the wife should have allowed him supervised visits though so she isnt perfect either
BoomStick Critique Facist and communist love to put people in "protective custody" and arresting people for "precrime". There was never any indication in the movie that she even tried to have "couple counselling". If I followed your or this female's character mentality, Over 80% of couples would be divorced over 90% of the population would be imprison to protect peopls from "potential" crime
nodinitiative the point is though we dont know what she may have tried we can only go by the film an what it gives us its true she isnt totally innocent but he isnt a good father he was a time bomb an the majority of people man or woman would not stay with someone who talks like that an its obvious he kept doing it he was mentally unstable since before the film started the message of the film is he isnt a evil man but he has become the bad guy because he has become an extremist an took things to far especially after he murders a man he diddnt have to the wife was acting out of anger toward him by taking the child completly to herself she isnt innocent but he is still worse he would never have hurt his child but he would have prolly in the future may have hurt his wife as a parent you just cant go by what a person may do you have to see who they are an no woman would put up with a man who talked like that
It's tough to say whether Foster really planned to kill Beth and Adele. I think he was ready to. He spent a good part of the movie scaring Beth, telling her that it was still legal to kill a spouse in some countries. When he met her on the pier, he used the "Till Death to Us Part" line while staring Beth down, and then drew his pistol. He only put it down when he saw Adele, whom he said would never be taken away from him again. It's open to interpretation, of course, but I think the movie gave us quite a few hints. It's tough to believe that about him because his character is relatable in many ways, but we must remember that his actions have not been the actions of a healthy man.
I agree. Foster was mentally unstable, and I do think he was ready to kill his wife and child. I think most viewers resist that notion because they relate to him on some level, and don't want to accept that they've been rooting for someone whose actions reflect serious internal problems. For them, killing Beth and Adele is a step too far, but they forget that Foster has already crossed some very repugnant lines.
That's some amazing wisdom Ian, about the 3 times you can lose your temper as a father!
Society is the bad guy. Foster decides to fight back against society which he believes has wronged him. At the same time Pendergast decides to fight within society's confines and does his duty as a cop to bring Foster, who has gone too far, to justice.
This is truly an underated film. Perhaps one of the best movies in the last 30 yrs.
Yes!!! I have been waiting for someone to give this movie this type of review. Thank you guys.
Re-watched this last week actually, nice to see your take on it
If this film doesn't make you think about life, in general... Nothing will...
I luv the construction scene-a little kid shows him how to fire a missle launcher. the things u learn from TV...
i saw this one night when I was about 12. spent the next few years trying to figure out what it was called so i could.watch it again.
absolutely brilliant movie
Falling Down is one of my favourite movies from the 90's.
I first saw it when i was in my teens and thought it was a great exploration of a guy having a bad day...a really bad day.
Now i'm in my 40's i see Michael Douglas's character as a man who's life is completely pushed him over the edge into a mental breakdown with severe consequences for himself and everyone he comes into contact with on his travels.
Great movie, great review.
Cheers guys.
This movie has been a favorite of mine and I never put the song London Bridge is falling down and the title of the movie together. Ever. Until watching this review. How did I miss that?
I would posit that the “bad guy” is a lack of empathy.
Early 90s was a great time for movies set in LA, interestingly enough. Falling Down, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction to name a few... granted, three of them can be attributed to Tarantino's involvement. :P
when i watched it as i teenager, he was villain, now he is hero, one of few antiheroes that i can relate
he’s a man willing to do terrible things, thinking that the world revolves around him, he is not a hero. Sorry for replying after 3 years
Brilliant film and a great performance from Michael Douglas
Excellent review of this hidden gem! One of my favorite movies of all time. Great break down and analysis.
Also, special shout out to Dedee Pfeiffer as the Whammy Burger girl - you can call me Ms. Fulsom if you like. Yes, that's Michelle Pfeiffer's sister!
Funny that Mike would work with Michelle in the second Ant-Man film.
One of the best and most underrated movies out there! I catch it every now and again and each time I am left morbidly depressed but know I will watch it again next time the opportunity comes...
I tip my hat to you good Sir.Enjoy your review of the selective films. Love both of you gents on your commentary and reflections. Serious but funny at the same time . Thank you again for your review.
When this movie was released, it was a toned down version of the original script - they turned D-Fense into a clearly bad guy toward the end in order to turn this movie more "PC".
D fense was always meant to be the bad guy...
@@challiray this movie really doesn't lend itself to the "bad guy, good guy" framework
great juxtaposition analysis on Prendergast and Foster. one is fired, the other is resigning.. one wants to see his wife who doesn't want to see him, the other's wife wants to see him immediately.. one wants to go home, the other can wait to go home..
cat people. Creepshow 2. Rosemary's baby. i would love to see a review from you two on one of these.
Suheyli Gissel "thanks for the ride, lady!!"
Good review guys, looking forward to the next one.
In regards to the fast food scene, it stuck in the corner of my brain every time I went to fast food joints. Every time the burgers were flat and pathetic. It wasn’t until the late nineties that fast food joints began improving the presentation of their food. Now it’s over the top with whipped cream and cherries on the shakes
Prendergast had fallen down also. The death of his daughter had destroyed both him and his wife. He was in many ways no different to D-FENS.
@Griever Interesting interpretation.
Excellent review! I thought the same thing about Predator 2 lol. This movie is amazing, everyone should check it out.
I think a big point of this movie is showing that we can sympathize with Foster, but still recognize him as the bad guy
Great video! I just watched this movie again. It really is a masterpiece. There is drama, dark humor, some light humor, things we can relate to day to day and ambiguity- yeah, Bill was a bad guy but he certainly had outside forces to assist making him that way. A lot of times he would have left people alone but people had to get in his face.
To paraphrase the Joker, all it takes for a good man to turn evil is one bad day
And one Ex-wife
Super in depth review. Great content, fellas!
Film is 23yr old at the time of this review.
"we are talking 1993. We are almost talking 20yrs this film has been out for."
As soon as that clock changed to the year 2000, time just sped up
Truly one of the best films of the 90s. Joel Schumacher was a great director.....It is a shame that Batman And Robin would forever taint his reputation, as the good films he had under his belt far outweighed the bad
Was asked to analyze this or two other movies for my exam in my Sociology course, went here to get some more perspectives, quite interesting!
Was a good, and interesting film. 7/10
With all the political ideologies going on today. And the wide range of insane topics constantly shoved down our throats...poor Defnse Foster, oh how I would love to see how he would react to all of this😂😂😂😂
This is one of my fav movies. One of my fav movies of that year. My fav Michael Douglas movie. The older and older I get the more I understand him. My 2nd fav late Joel S film after A time to Kill. When he destroys the shop is one of my fav scenes.
Great job guys I enjoyed your review! Michael Douglas did an Oscar award performance!!!
Pendergrast :
" FUCK you
Captain
FUCK you very much "
best line to say to
your boss
EVER !
Love this one. I saw it on Canal+ when i was 14 or 15 or so. Realy loved it straight away. Every time i hear the Iron Maiden song, Man on the edge. I see Micheal Douglas with a bat in LA.
Another spot on review and good precautionary word to teen and pre teen (?) potential audiences. You’re right. It’s a huge leap for a fully developed adult brain to go from empathy or sympathy to romanticism or full canonization of this very dangerous bomb of an unstable man, the actions of whom no one can predict thus the words ‘dangerous bomb’ Maybe we who have lived longer have experienced or witnessed at least the torture of a violence that while remaining within the law truly constitutes violence in the results of profound indecency of man towards his fellow man. And until it is an actual crime where punishment sneaks justice through, we can feel empathy without wanting to emulate this particular unraveling which will do nothing to right the wrong and instead damage societal awareness. Possibly punish individual awareness and delay societal awareness indefinitely.
This isn’t something that young audiences are going to understand (hopefully not) and I’d be afraid that they would fail to see how this tortured man is enjoying absolutely none of it. Although only brilliant talent like a Michael Douglas’ could deliver lines in such a way that get a smile out of the decency in the audience as well as whatever other elements in them are moved.
Enough said. I keep trying to un muddy it up
. Anyway you guys are very good indeed
Loved the ending
4 days later I'm still watching off the shelf reviews quoting movie lines back to myself in a slight west country accent 😂
on a more serious note, this went quite I'm depth into bill fosters psyche and I recently find myself in a similar situation but with a different outlook.
Failed relationship, lost job, back at mum's (with a lockdown as well) but have sought help, not bought any guns and make sure I get to MacDonalds at 9am if I want a breakfast, nowhere near 1030.
I remember this being such a dark movie, but great. I always end up feeling bad for the main character.
You guys are fairly young. The one point you miss is that in that era, the stigma was 10 as strong as today for mental health problems, especially for men. It was a 'suck it up and carry on' society. It was rare for people to go for help until they reached that point of no return and still he'd have likely been jailed or put to the death penalty more often than having been put in a mental institution. This was also 10 years post Ronald Reagan who shut down most of the institutions. Most were awful places, but the alternative was that the mentally ill ultimately became the explosion of the US homeless population, and is still that way today.
This movie sounds like God Bless America. That movie was awesome gonna give this one a go and enjoy it.
Saw this as a kid and it's been one of my favorite movies of all time.
Heartbreaking film. Nice review, guys. Thanks.
I feel not much sympathy for D-Fense. All that he does, brought some kind of suffering to people involved. From the people in the restaurant, to his ex-wife and especially daughter, and then the police-officer having to kill someone on his very last day ... D-Fense is an asshole in the need for help. He could have asked for help, but probably was too delusional and proud and arrogant about his own sanity that it never even occurred to him.
I can only imagine how the time with him was for his family. His wife surely was not the reason for the divorce, doesn'T feel like that. He brought his demise on himself. Maybe its just his personality, or it slowly changed to this due to losing his job or whatever - but there is never an excuse to go on a rampage. Never. If you think your life sucks, at least don't affect the lives of others negatively...except for white nazi supremacist. If you run amok, at least target assholes like that ... ^^
This movie inspired the Iron Maiden song Man On the Edge which was on their 1995 album The X Factor.
One of the best movies ever made... He is there original GTA character... This movie is just as relevant today as it was in the early 90s…
Finally saw this last night. Awesome movie but understandable why there was backlash and the fact no major studio wanted to take the risk based on the screenplay. Makes you wonder how many unique and provocative scripts are sitting in the Rejected pile.
One thing seen in the bac ground, that always makes me laugh is the Sir Mixalot Baby Got Back litteral giant inflatable buttocks. Seen in the phone booth shoot up part.
@16:30 I didn't realize that nice detail in terms of costumes. Dressing the bank protester in the same attire as D-Fens.
As far as the Surplus store scene, I'd think a judge would rule either man slaughter, or 2nd degree murder.
I need to watch this tonight.
Highly Underrated film !
I actually like it more after 20 years on.
Can you guys do Johnny Mnemonic? There are only a few very low quality reviews out there and it's an underrated movie. I think you would liek it a lot
Good choice 👍
Loved this (review & film) Keep up the great work guys !
There's a shit load of traffic at a dead stop here in LA. It takes you up to an hour to travel 13 miles depending on the time of day.
i saw this movie in the theater and loved it ! thanks guys CLEVELAND STEAMER !
if he was fired a month before, where was he going every day when he left his mom's house?
Hi guys, great review. I knew you'd see it for what it is, rather than hold Douglas' character up upon a pedestal ( like maybe some fans of De Palma's Scarface do).
I know people who view Douglas' character as some kind of "hero" or "anti-hero" and they think the same way about Travis Bickle. I always thought of Bickle as a grey area "bad guy" of the piece, rather than some kind of white knight super hero who saved "innocent" Jodie Foster from the bad guys (who ARE bad of course). It's why I hold Taxi Driver in such high regard, as it's full of nuance and flawed characters across the board. To think of Travis Bickle, or anyone else in that movie (within obvious reason) as plainly, GOOD or BAD is to miss the point I guess. And Falling Down is very similar I feel.
Have you guys seen the new Twin Peaks and all the mind-bending craziness that it brings with it? I'd love to hear what you made of it all and what you felt it meant to YOU, rather than someone trying to find an (impossible) "answer" to it all.
the Japanese Detective was played by a Korean actor, and the Korean store owner was played by a Chinese actor
Best review I have seem in a while!
I love these reviews so much.
Michael Douglas is also amazing in David Fincher's "The Game."
Didn't know he was in that movie. Thanks for the reccomend.
@@RobiticDuck You're welcome. It's a classic thriller.
a good film always keeps you questioning
Wonderful movie with Michael Douglas as 'bad' guy (like in 'War of Roses' ?) at his best. I will miss all these wonderful actors of the late 20th century. Who will ever be able to replace them ? And i'm already missing the depth in today's movies.
The 90s had some really great movies. That is for sure.
Great commentary and review!
*Turns Up*
16:19 great observation I'm jealous that I didn't notice that myself lol
An absolutely brilliant film, great review guys.
The real issue with the Coke can is not that it's overpriced. It's that he needs the change to call his ex-wife. One aspect of the movie I love BTW is how all the weapons he uses are just things he picks up along the way. Even the water gun at the end is his daughter's. None of it is pre-meditated. So it's really a sort of Anti-Hero's Journey.
my favorite movie ever, seen it at least 40 times
Another top review chaps, you are required cult viewing. If is was the 1980s you would likely have you own late night TV show on Channel 4! Keep 'em coming...
This movie and the Office space show up the things of the real world without trying to shape the picture in the fake Hollywood way of messing up the screen play to be more likable. D-fence was the good guy in world of the bad guys, who was mentally sick and abuse those who he love. At the phone call, he know it, he pass that point of no return. Is only rampage and getting to his daughter now. When the Duvall character tell him that he would kill his girl and (ex)-wife, that not true, that man love then, he won't even touch them ever (the conversation with the wife and the cop). If nothing else, that movie make us look at the bigger picture of the world we live.
I’ve gotta see this now, great review
Thanks for this great review, and I've subscribed to your channel. But one character point: If Michael Douglas' character worked for a defense contractor, doesn't it seem likely that he'd know how to operate a rocket launcher? Like we'd say Stark Industries is a defense contractor of a sort, and Tony Stark seems to have a basic knowledge of how his company's products work. But yes, great film. I was in college at the time it was released and saw it with an older friend, who characterized it as "Good concept, but poorly done." (I disagree).
I think he wasn't part of any program that involved creating rocket launchers while he was working.
I love the scene where he criticizes the hamburger, and the whole fast food scene.
Yah man that was so cool
So many priceless moments. :D
amazing review, you two rock
Love this film. What a surpirse this review is. Can't wait.
great review for a great movie
Would love to see a review of Christmas Evil, for Christmas. such a great and quirky film.
oh and thanks for reviewing Falling Down, its a family favourite in my household.
@@SeamusHobo 😆
Great review fellas! 🎆
Southern California has a serious problem with having a racist social infrastructure. We may not talk about it often enough, however, this film did.