Falling Down

Directed by: Joel Schumacher

Written by: Ebbe Roe Smith

Ever had one of those really bad days where nothing seems to go your way?

In "Falling Down," William Foster (Douglas) is having one of those days, but instead of moving on with his life, he's decided to act on violent impulses to get his way. In his attempt to see his estranged daughter on her birthday, he crosses Los Angeles taking out anything and everything in his path, from the liquor store clerk who over-charges for a can of soda to the fast-food cashier who won't serve breakfast a few minutes late. Meanwhile, LAPD Detective Prendergast is literally serving his last day before retirement, but decides to tackle Foster's case before he leaves, leading to a dramatic confrontation on the Venice Pier.

This movie is dark and scary in a gritty, realistic way, as though this is the kind of thing that might happen if the wrong person has a bad day.

The only major weak point is the subplot regarding Prendergast's wife being jealous of his female partner. At several points she pops up to bother him about coming home and not taking on any more work on his last day, but I'm not sure what exactly her role serves.

It's not a pleasant movie, but it's definitely worth watching for its uniqueness.