Rating: 
Summary: TAKE A STAND!
Review: Ever wish you wouldv'e done something in a certain situation where someone [angered you]? This movie makes those wishes reality. Michael Douglas gives an outstanding performance as an ex-husband, an ex-employee of the Department of Defense, and an ex-bystander. Douglas goes on a crazy spree through the slums of the city, getting more and more [upset] at different minorities in different parts of the cities. This movie makes a powerful statement about society and is very entertaining to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: The Frustration of the Middle-Class WASP
Review: Yes, I realize that there are many disadvantaged groups out there. I do not wish to claim that the plight of the WASP is somehow worse. The thing is though, most oppressed minorities have militant, outspoken spokespersons now, but whites, by dint of our bloody past, are denied one wholesale. Since dead whites eradicated most of North America's population, etc., we are the convenient bad guy, for hey, we're white too. We are still the largest population demographic, and we are now being treated like we treated the minorities even 50 years ago. Most would say that we're getting what we deserve, having "sown the wind we reap the whirlwind." Pardon me, but that's just B.S. I wasn't out oppressing anybody, and neither are most of the WASPS alive today. Yet I must carry the guilt of my forebears? Please! That's pure nonsense. Why should I feel guilty for what I didn't do? Why should I carry the demonization of dead strangers? Why should I be denied a voice and be told "I'm the bad guy" if I stand up for myself. The point of this movie, in my opinion, is that, given our lack of a voice in society, violence or lashing out is the only option we have (I do not agree with violence, but I understand why the weak resort to it). Unempowered WASPs... those of us who plug away at our jobs but are too naiive or too honest to "play ball" and fit in, we will grind away at oppressive jobs. That in itself is not much different than others, except for one rather insulting difference: we are told that WE are the bad guys, that we, the oppressed and truly voiceless of society, that we are the oppressors and silencers. That is insult to injury, with no outlet for our rage. While I do not condone violence as a solution, I must add that the riots in LA in the early 90s and Watts in the 60s ...we say that "we understand why they did that" since blacks are an oppressed minority, but when equally sick whites act out, we are robbed of such understanding. This is bias and double-standard at its worst, and it feeds the sickness. I was told to be a good student, a good son, a good employee, to be honest and truthful and industrious. If I do these things, then I will do well in life. Yet I was fired from a good position because I was honest enough to admit a mistake instead of covering it up. At my next job, I received awards and letters from happy clients at my customer service job ...yet I was fired because they needed to trim back their ranks due to overstaffing. I make good grades in college ...yet I don't get the scholarships that minorities do. Because I'm white, I am nothing as far as scholarships and so forth go. Falling Down is about white rage, about the unimportant WASPs with no voice and no outlet who did everything they were supposed to and still have it ripped away while being told its their fault. Society crumbles and we, whose dreams crumble along with the rest as we stand alienated and powerless, are told that it is our fault. D-Fens, while I would never do what you do, and while I'm glad you're only fiction ...I UNDERSTAND.
Rating:
Summary: Falling Down makes a powerful statement.
Review: Most critics (who as we know, are mostly bitter, failed filmakers) nitpick so much at this film that they miss the powerful statement it makes. This film takes all of our frustrations at modern life and pushes them to a conclusion that we have seen in real life. D-Fens snaps, plain and simple. As so often happens with people pushed too far. More acts of violence in this country are commited by average people rahter than sinister career criminals. How many times have we heard the news reports; Man goes insane, kills his family and then himself. Then they interview neighbors who say; "He was such a quiet man, helped me bring in my groceries every week" D-Fens is every one of us. Haven't you ever wished that you had a gun in hand so you could blow the fool head off the moron who just cut you off? The pressure in the big cities is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. Los Angeles along has over 12 million people in it. How long can we be treated like animals, and be expected to act like civilized people? I do not see this movie as having any heroes in it. Only victims. This movie is certainly entertaining, and provactive. But more than anything else, it is a warning. A warning that if we do not change out basic attitudes, civilization will all go the way of poor D-Fens. People laugh when I say that I believe civilization will collapse, they think no such thing can happen. But where are the great empires of the past? Where is Rome? Where are the Pharohs? Even the USSR came apart. Is it really so hard to believe that the same can happen here? We need to start caring a little more than we do, we need to start being a little nicer, and a lot less selfish. We have to lose this sense of entitlement we have. We need to take pride in ourselves and in our country once again, if we do not all want to turn in to D-Fens.
Rating:
Summary: I don't think you understand, I want breakfast
Review: This is another classic that's within my library. What Network did in the mid 70's this does for the early 90's. It represents a feeling of anger and disgust that everyone has felt during sometime within their lives. The acting is great, so is the humor.
Rating:
Summary: He's going home!
Review: Ok, so I bought this movie on my friend's say so, and it is one of my new favorite movies ever! Definitely top 5. It's about this guy, who's license plate says D-Fens. He has recently been fired, and one day he's in a traffic jam, it's really hot, the ac does'nt work, the window won't roll down, and he just gets out of his car and says "I'm going home". And he tries to go home, but along the way he has run ins with the ills of modern society, and he fights back! It's so cool, he makes a stand for the working stiff! Several memorable scenes include one where he gets frustrated at those road crews who never actually fix anything, so he "gives them something to fix" by blowing up a chunk of the street with a rocket! Then there's this scene where D-Fens is on the phone, and some guy behind him complains about him being on it to long, se he shoots the phone with an uzi and says " I think it's out of order"! He's just an ordinary guy who's sick of the frustrations of modern life. The end may dissapoint some, but really, could you see it ending any other way after all that happens? See this movie, you'll love it!
Rating:
Summary: Fred and Mike go over the top
Review: This is a film that wants to eat it's cake and have it. It wants us to get off on the vigilante violence and then puts in a studio dislaimer at the end explaining that we don't endorse this sort of behaviour. Veteran actor Duvall does the honours on their behalf. It is short on solutions but long on laughs. My favourite bit is with the water pistol. My mate Nigel 'Spunky' Turner says he loves it when it all spurts out. Hope he sees the film too, sometime.
Rating:
Summary: "Falling Down" and the danger of self pity and bitterness
Review: Michael Douglas is splendid as William Foster who loses both his engineering job and existential place within the universe. Unemployment was not part of the tacit contract he thought existed between him and his social milieu. Hadn't he always played by the rules and conformed to the standard mores? His marriage to Beth (Barbara Hershey) has already dissolved, and this new crisis puts him over the edge. We go along with this alienated man as he travels by foot all over the diverse cultures of Los Angeles. Foster ceases responding to the challenges and slights of everyday life in a mature manner. He instead reacts violently to even perceived insults and minor inconveniences. Needless to add, the resulting death and destruction soon captures the attention of the police. Officer Prendergast (Robert Duval) is committed to putting a stop to Foster's irascible behavior. The resulting situations are riveting and may even be found disturbing. One cannot but wonder if they might likewise flip out sometime in the future. In one particularly gripping incident, Foster stops into a hardware store and converses with its ultra-right wing owner (Frederic Forrest). Our protagonist may be indulging in self pity and a sense of victimhood, but soon realizes that he is not about to partner with this hate mongering Nazi. Foster might be bitter, but he still retains the ability to say no to unambiguous evil. The last scene is profound, and should be seen by anyone who is ever tempted to think that life is unfair. Prendergast finally corners Foster and listens to the latter complain how he feels deceived by the establishment. The police man quickly dismisses Foster's excuses--and points out that most folks may have legitimate reasons to feel this way at one time or another. Nonetheless, this still does not justify going off the deep end! The makers of "Falling Down" should have been a bit more courageous. The story line had enough going for it that the excess blood shed only got in the way. This film is not quite worthy of a five star endorsement, but it definitely earns a solid four.
Rating:
Summary: Michael Douglas At His Best!
Review: This is definatly Michael Douglas at his best! With co-star Robert Duvall you can't go wrong! Summery: A man who finally snaps after he loses his job. A divorced man trying to make it "home" to see his wife and kid, only he is not supposed to go near them. Robert Duvall plays the cop retiring to only end up not retiring as he gets involved in the case of the clean-cut white man in a shirt and tie who is terrozing the neighborhood. Extreme violence in parts, use of guns, bad langauge, etc. A great drama/suspense movie for anyone who once in awhile could just "snap", but then again couldn't we all! One man who brings true justice (in his mind anyway) to all those in his way.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Don't believe what Leonard Maltin says, this is a great movie. It is on the borderline of being an action movie and a drama, but at the same time, it could be reffered as a 'dark comedy'. But that's what makes this movie so watchable. I recieved this movie... yesterday and I've already watched it twice. It is that good. But this movie is not for everyone, though. It is fairly violent, and has a pretty powerful ending, not to mention the strong(really strong)language. This is definitely not a movie for kids. Is this movie worth the asking price? Of course, as this is the best film Douglas has acted in. Period.
But, don't take my word for it. Watch it yourself, and you'll understand.
Rating:
Summary: Just another day
Review: He's had it. He's out of work, his wife left him and took his daughter, it's his daughter's birthday, and he wants to go see her. Doesn't seem like much to ask for. Things just never want to cooperate with him. He can't get change for a phone call, he can't take a break in a park, he can't get a new pair of shoes, nothing goes right for him. Outstanding role for Michael Douglas. I am sure this movie is not for everyone, but neither is White Man's Burden.
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