Back in 1993, Michael Douglas made a whopper of a film! I recently saw it again, and I was so impressed I thought my readers might like to know about one they might have missed.
Falling Down is about a guy going bezonkers. Poor fellow. He's divorced, unemployed, hot under the collar, and just downright mad at society! That's all I'll say, because I don't want to give anything away.
Let me simply address the acting.
First, Michael Douglas. He may well be one of the most talented actors ever. Yes, this sounds a bit long on hyperbole. But go back and look at some of his work. He absolutely gripped viewers when he played the cop smitten with the slinky writer in Basic Instinct. He just about outdid himself in The Game. But in Falling Down, he IS the creepy, violent, weird, unbalanced man with a gun!
If that is not enough, Robert Duvall plays one his finest roles as the officer nearing retirement who feels out of place among his peers and senses a kinship, of sorts, with the killer he is chasing. And watch for Tuesday Weld who plays a late-career, powerful role as the neurotic wife of the cop. The former beauty shows she could always act.
WOW! The plot is taut. The acting is superb.
I have no idea why Michael Douglas was not nominated for Best Actor and Robert Duvall for Best Supporting Actor.
Falling Down is an overlooked masterpiece.
I was intrigued by this film when it came out, but somehow it escaped. Tuesday Weld? wow.
ReplyDeleteI guess I wouldn't put MD under the list of most talented ever (I would put Duvall here), BUT I do think he can do excellent work and has, indeed, been under-appreciated, especially when he takes a risk like this one.
Did you know he is playing Liberace in an upcoming film? I can't wait. Talk about a risk!
I'll try to see it now.
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ReplyDeleteLiberace? Now that's taking a big leap! MD v RD? Yes, I agree, the winner would have to be RD. Remember his in The Godfather?
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