Does anybody else like the movie "Falling Down"?

It's a classic for sure. I used to watch it often when I was younger but as I got older I somehow got alienated or weirded out by Douglas' character. Hard to relate to whiny weirdo creepo with temper problems. It's still thought provoking though.
 
Oh dang, forgot about this thread!

By virtue of fact that we see the story mostly through his perspective, we connect further with him, but there are lines of action.... you relate to being laid off, or separated from those ya love, but you don't go insane as a result. Pendergast's daughter is dead, D-Fens' is not.
He has the ability to reason, his understanding of reason, at least, but it is tied to his patience.


HJK said:
I thought he was perfectly sane and the world was insane.
Oh, oh...
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I would compare it to, Taxi Driver or God Bless America, them types of movies. Sure, the society is sick, but so are these dudes. Neither elevates the other by virtue of being as sick as the other. I love the ending of Taxi Driver, where he becomes a total accidental hero, meaning to go out in a blaze of glory, just choosing the brothel as the site rather than Palantine... but is lauded as a hero, when in reality, he is just as unhinged, as you see the flash of anger and insanity back again in the rearview, after the idyllic ride with Iris.
 
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A.L. said:
It's a classic for sure. I used to watch it often when I was younger but as I got older I somehow got alienated or weirded out by Douglas' character. Hard to relate to whiny weirdo creepo with temper problems. It's still thought provoking though.
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This is a good way to see it, too, as a warning and a way to temper your....temper. Never wanna think like that guy, indeed. Entitlement issues. Should not have married, not the type, with those hidden issues.

Yeah, I see the movie differently every time I watch it. I do love the black-comedy style of it, though.

Ebbe Roe Smith was kind of shocked to see many people genuinely like or support Dfens, I think this is a good, kind of jokingly toned essay that puts things a bit into perspective for those who identify too much with him, while being reasonable. Smart video.
 
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This was a deeper movie than it got credit for being at the time. That depth is reflected in the different ways people take the movie, even just here in this thread to an extent. As a young man, I resonated with the plight of the main character but didn't care for the cop. As an older man, I understand the cop and his arc better.
 
Chronovore said:
This was a deeper movie than it got credit for being at the time. That depth is reflected in the different ways people take the movie, even just here in this thread to an extent. As a young man, I resonated with the plight of the main character but didn't care for the cop. As an older man, I understand the cop and his arc better.
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Well said👌
 
Chronovore said:
This was a deeper movie than it got credit for being at the time. That depth is reflected in the different ways people take the movie, even just here in this thread to an extent. As a young man, I resonated with the plight of the main character but didn't care for the cop. As an older man, I understand the cop and his arc better.
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I absolutely agree. This movie is underrated and totally ahead of its time. It depicts the American dream better than most films out there. And I'll definitely watch it several times. Fortunately, I cut the cord and switched to an Android box, so thanks to these repositories and Kodi builds, I have the possibility to watch everything I want.
 
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