Falling Down (1993)

Director:

Joel Schumacher

Writer (WGA):

Ebbe Roe Smith (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The adventures of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world.

Plot:

An unemployed defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society, begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them.

Plot Keywords:

Birthday | Gang | Baseball Bat | Convenience Store | Traffic Jam

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	William 'D-Fens' Foster
Robert Duvall	...	Detective Prendergast
Barbara Hershey	...	Elizabeth 'Beth' Travino
Tuesday Weld	...	Amanda Prendergast
Rachel Ticotin	...	Detective Sandra Torrez
Frederic Forrest	...	Nick, The Nazi Surplus Store Owner
Lois Smith	...	Mrs. Foster / William's Mother
Joey Hope Singer	...	Adele Foster-Travino
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Guy on Freeway
Michael Paul Chan	...	Mr. Lee
Raymond J. Barry	...	Captain Yardley
D.W. Moffett	...	Detective Lydecker
Steve Park	...	Detective Brian
Kimberly Scott	...	Detective Jones
James Keane	...	Detective Keene

Also Known As:

Chute libre (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and strong language.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

France | USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 (re-rating: 1997) (uncut) | South Korea:18 (original rating: 1994) (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:16+ | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Peru:14 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

1000 N. Crescent Drive, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alcor Films

Trivia:

Every studio in Hollywood turned down Ebbe Roe Smith's script. Producer Arnold Kopelson was getting to the stage of considering cable TV when Michael Douglas came across the script and pronounced it one of the best he'd ever read.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening shot, D-Fens is wearing his seat belt. For the rest of the traffic jam sequence, his seat belt is off.

Quotes:

Sergeant Prendergast: Lucky you caught me.
Motorcycle Cop: I am?
Sergeant Prendergast: Yeah. Today's my last day as a cop.
Motorcycle Cop: Lucky me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Batoru rowaiaru (2000)

Soundtrack:

I DIDN'T SLIP, I WASN'T PUSHED, I FELL

We have all felt like this at some time!

Only a few hours before watching Falling Down i was in a local branch of McDonalds trying to order my usual Filet'o'Fish only to be told by the gormless spotty member of staff that it would take 8 minutes because they had none ready. When asked why they had none ready at the height of lunch time the moron proceded to tell me "it's because they arent very popular"!. When i tried to explain that they were not popular because every time someone tries to order one they have to wait an eternity for you to cook it, i was presented with a face of immense puzzlement and confusion! I'm not saying i would ever go as far as Michael Douglas does when he cant get his breakfast 2 minutes after the cut off time in this film but i understand EXACTLY how he feels.!. Falling Down is a very good interpretation on how if someone not quite the full package, comes up against the day to day greedyness ,rudeness and descrimination of todays western society and how he feels he needs to get his point across in his own way. This is a very good film and is superbly acted,especially from Duvall and Douglas. 8 out of 10.