Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Falling Down’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Our imagination is a wonderful thing. It can help us conceive only the greatest of dreams and give us ideas on how to follow them. It can help us understand difficult concepts and even relate to the people in our lives by letting us picture events in our mind. It also helps keep us out of trouble. For there are days that life can be trying, and our imagination is there to let us wonder about the things we might say to someone who ticked us off.  
 
But sometimes our imagination takes us to deeper and darker scenarios depending on how bad it was, and sometimes people act on it. Yet most of us let those ideas...stay ideas, knowing full well that while it sounds awesome to say and do whatever we want, there are consequences. It is the idea of finally getting to say and do whatever you want and saying to hell with the consequences that is the central theme of the motion picture, Falling Down. 
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William Foster is not a man you would ever notice in a crowd. He goes about his day like the rest of us.  He endures traffic jams, rude clerks and the day to day annoyances of the world. But today, a day like any other for the rest of us, is the day that William has had enough. He has had enough of letting things go and being polite.  He has had enough of the world telling him what to do. For today, William Foster is going home, and anyone who stands in his way or treats him like he doesn't matter, is going to be sorry. 

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This is a film filled to the brim with angst and anger and utter brilliance, due to its dissection of what happens when you push a man too far. William Foster is a terrifying character simply because this is the kind of man you really do pass on the street. While we worry about what to make for dinner, they are seething with anger. Foster is the kind of guy we hear about on the news when he finally does snap, and the film does a wonderful job of breaking down how a nighttime news monster is a person who simply lost their way.  

Michael Douglas is in the actor behind William Foster and he is at his absolute best here. He plays Foster with an incredible cool, since clearly this is a man who has learned to channel his anger. Yet Foster is such a tragic character and that's where Douglas' years of experience comes in handy. He is able to show the regret that William is filled with over his mistakes and his anger. Yet on a moment's notice, that very fury that has kept him going for so long will come front and center to help William do what he does best, survive.  

Falling Down is a sweeping tale of tragedy and one that is absolutely worth watching because of how unique a tale this is. William Foster is a villain through and through and yet you sympathize for him. It's a brilliant move for this film.  Because despite all the anger and angst it takes you through, it leaves you filled with hope. Hope that there is a chance William can make it back into the light, and hope that a man like him can find redemption.  ​

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