Falling Down
(Warner Home Video Region 1 NTSC DVD)
(1993)
review by Died with Boots On

Who ever thought a vanity plate could be the most important motif in a film? Apparently the hawk-featured homophile whose "Batman" creations catered more to his masturbatory fetishes than to the people who don't hold a register job at the cancerous "Hot Topics" that plague our strip malls from coast to coast. Thank God Mr. Schumacher made this film before he had a nice piping cup of coffee over a bite to eat with Tim Burton, and tripped into the "Goth" counter-culture ( Though I'm not going to persecute Joel Schumacher, because the man's failures are only a drop in the pan). From "Flatliners" to "8MM" to "Phone Booth," the guy may not be batting a thousand, but he sure is making a positive and influential splash. I sure as hell enjoy the man's work. Even as a person, he is so idiosyncratic that you can't help but gravitate toward him. I applaud you, Mr. Schumacher, not for your more recent work, but for making one of the most entertaining movies I have lived to witness, ranking in my book, if not number one, than number one and a half amongst the greatest films ever made. I've seen the movie twenty plus times in the past year or so, and I am completely engaged for all one hundred thirteen minutes. Suffice it to say, the replay value never wears off. Now that I have your attention, let us venture into the plot, which distinguishes this work of art as a God amongst men.

"D-Fens"; a bleak, ubiquitous recurrent verse that is first introduced on the protagonist's license plate, and then lends itself to a developing theme. A self-described American, "standing up for [his] rights as a consumer," William Foster (Douglas), later dubbed "D-Fens" in accord with his trademark plate, is a missile engineer at a defense plant in Los Angeles. This "overeducated, under skilled, or perhaps the other way around," defense worker is sick to the pit of his stomach with the status quo, the current state of affairs. Taking matters into his own hands, or perhaps through a knee-jerk reaction, Mr. D-Fens makes his way from Hollywood to Venice, the residence of his overly paranoid ex-wife and little girl, where he plans an unexpected reunion, despite the restraining order against him, foreshadowing his propensity for violence. Traversing the impoverished "gang-land" districts of L.A., D-Fens is cornered by anyone looking to take advantage of a man adorning a white collared shirt and tie. In a chain of the most inventive, sometimes comedic, and yet altogether entertaining episodes, D-Fens makes a point of overreacting – with brute force and an arsenal of weapons – to some of the more frivolous annoyances and inconveniences each and every one of us faces morning, noon, and night, from inflated prices, to inconsiderate proprietors, to unnecessary road construction, to that eye-gouging policy of generic fast food franchises to discontinue the breakfast menu by an unreasonably early time, and then deny food to paying customers only minutes after the expiration. Right on, D-fens!

Some of you may still be posing the question, "Why is this movie so captivating?" I would hope not, though if the tactfully crafty plot leaves you thirsting for more, then you are probably insatiable. However, the film has much more to offer. In a manner very much unlike "Heat," "Falling Down" follows the sheriff and his bad guy. Detective Prendergast ( Duvall), working against the friction of his borderline insane wife, a whole department of maliciously sarcastic police officers, who never let him forget that he is a "desk-case," and the unbelievable antics of a vigilante, is just trying to survive his last day on the job, and the superstitions surrounding it. This shouldn't be hard for a "paper-pusher." On the flip side of the coin is the trapped rat that we begin to sympathize with, that we begin to rally behind, as he sticks it to the man, to the faceless corporate America, chiseling away at the pandemic of evils that we overlook out of habit, yet still feel a subconscious twinge of pain when they cross our paths. The ungrateful "war veteran" whose only career is to beg for money while he sits comfortably on his park bench eating his lunch. The racist Nazi owner of a military surplus store who "reserves the right" to deny service and merchandise to anyone he pleases. The unbending practices of convenience stores and restaurants alike; the selfish ignorance of the affluent, Et cetera.

Beyond documenting the mental deterioration of a "madman," this film delivers on every conceivable level, boasting another incredible performance by Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall as the Robert De Niro and Al Pacino of "Falling Down." Like an independent film, it relies heavily on substance, not to mention cinematography, both of which are abounding. It also never wears out its welcome. There has never been and never again will there be anything like "Falling Down," a title that has earned the top shelf of my heart. Without consideration to your genre of preference, I will assure you that this is a movie for anyone (not to be confused with a "family film" which is appropriate for everyone). Put simply, this is the tale of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world.