Falling Down (1993) ***1/2
It's interesting how "hot button" films like this age—how you process and reevaluate them at certain points in your life, based on the zeitgeist and politics of the time. Falling Down (1993) is a film that I've seen numerous times and one that I've always liked a lot. I hadn't seen it for at least 13 years (I started logging my film viewing in 2005).
As a character study, it's top notch. Michael Douglas' performance is perfect. As a tense piece of entertainment, it's still really good. It also feels realistic, for the most part, and seems to want to comment on mental illness, domestic violence, racism, and inequality ("not economically viable") in a broad sort of way. But these days it feels just a bit hollow. How much are we supposed to sympathize with our protagonist, he who terrorizes innocent people due to his own breakdown? Just how bad should we feel for our white middle class hero who goes on a rampage in L.A.?
The film does a pretty good job of showing us that Douglas' character's motivations (he just wants to get home to his (ex) wife and daughter, apparently) are not the same as the bigoted, Nazi-sympathizing army surplus store owner or the gang members that want to steal from him. It is wickedly funny when he causes a rich, smug, elderly golf course owner to have a heart attack and smiles down at him mockingly, delivering one of the film's best lines. And our “hero” does appear to feel remorse for his actions. He doesn't want to cause anyone harm but, as his mind and his self control slowly unravel, he does.
I found myself comparing this to Breaking Bad (2008–2013) wherein we have another educated but down-on-his-luck father who does terrible things, initially with good intentions, and turns out to be "the bad guy" in the end. As a long form TV series that delved deep into all of its characters and their motivations, Breaking Bad worked well and turned out to be a masterpiece. In a 2-hour film, today, Falling Down actually feels strangely relevant and yet out of touch at that same time.
As a character study, it's top notch. Michael Douglas' performance is perfect. As a tense piece of entertainment, it's still really good. It also feels realistic, for the most part, and seems to want to comment on mental illness, domestic violence, racism, and inequality ("not economically viable") in a broad sort of way. But these days it feels just a bit hollow. How much are we supposed to sympathize with our protagonist, he who terrorizes innocent people due to his own breakdown? Just how bad should we feel for our white middle class hero who goes on a rampage in L.A.?
The film does a pretty good job of showing us that Douglas' character's motivations (he just wants to get home to his (ex) wife and daughter, apparently) are not the same as the bigoted, Nazi-sympathizing army surplus store owner or the gang members that want to steal from him. It is wickedly funny when he causes a rich, smug, elderly golf course owner to have a heart attack and smiles down at him mockingly, delivering one of the film's best lines. And our “hero” does appear to feel remorse for his actions. He doesn't want to cause anyone harm but, as his mind and his self control slowly unravel, he does.
I found myself comparing this to Breaking Bad (2008–2013) wherein we have another educated but down-on-his-luck father who does terrible things, initially with good intentions, and turns out to be "the bad guy" in the end. As a long form TV series that delved deep into all of its characters and their motivations, Breaking Bad worked well and turned out to be a masterpiece. In a 2-hour film, today, Falling Down actually feels strangely relevant and yet out of touch at that same time.
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