Today’s quick review: Falling Down. On a stressful day in Los Angeles, William Foster (Michael Douglas), a white collar worker with a short temper, abandons his car in a traffic jam and sets out across the city on foot. His simple act of defiance escalates into a series of violent incidents as he takes out his frustrations on those around him. But his actions soon get noticed by Prendergast (Robert Duvall), a friendly cop on the eve of retirement.
Falling Down is a crime drama and black comedy about a straight-edged man who decides he’s had enough. Michael Douglas stars as William Foster, a man who just wants to make it through Los Angeles’ assorted hazards to his daughter’s birthday party. Falling Down uses its main character to take broad shots at the irritations of modern society. The film’s snatches of humor make it entertaining, but it’s missing the finesse it needs to bring its premise home.
Falling Down serves up a peculiar sort of catharsis. William’s low-grade rampage pits him against the mundane injustices of modern living, from traffic and overcrowding to gangsters and inflation. His decision to stand up for himself serves as a shallow but enjoyable power fantasy, peppered with absurd moments and tinged with tragedy as William takes things too far. Falling Down is far from subtle, but it does a decent job of bringing its ideas to life.
Still, Falling Down can’t seem to make up its mind whether William is in the right. Sometimes the story paints him as a hero, the last decent man in a world gone mad. But William’s violent overreactions, loose choice of targets, and abusive behavior towards his ex-wife Beth (Barbara Hershey) all cast him in a negative light. The contradiction isn’t entirely compelling, and it makes the movie hard to categorize simply as a drama or a romp.
Falling Down is an oddity that won’t appeal to everyone, including some viewers who might like it on paper. Its social commentary is blunt in places and ambiguous in others, while its forays into drama keep it from serving as pure escapism. Still, its unique premise and two skilled leads make it worth a shot for those who are curious. Falling Down is a scattershot film, but one that mostly hits the mark.
For a quieter rebellion against modern society, try The Weather Man. For a more comedic reaction to the pressures of white collar work, try Office Space. For a more dedicated tale of vigilante justice, try The Boondock Saints.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid execution of a novel premise.