My dad was a barber. Years ago, one of his steady customers got his hair cut. The following day the customer committed suicide. In hindsight, my dad is convinced the customer was planning his suicide and wanted a hair cut so he looked good at his own funeral. My dad said the customer never showed a clue he was suicidal during his hair cut. One never knows what is going on in a persons life.
False. it's a story about being a HUMAN in the U.S. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with race or "privilege", and has everything to do with class, and just trying to be a decent person in a world filled with very shitty people who assume privilege.
I was 20 (almost 21) when this movie came out and liked it then. Now, I'm almost 50, and see it in a completely different light. After half a century of seeing what a garbage dump life is it isn't just a superficially entertaining movie. The way he looks at it all he wants is an honest job, his wife and kid and to live the American dream and be left alone. Not justifying some of the things he does by any means, but I can understand him. Amazing the way age changes your perspective on things.
@Pacho Pacho - Anybody can live the American dream, it's what YOU make out of it, not what others portray it to be. My family and I immigrated here, didn't know the language, were dirt poor and after working our asses off are now successful. We live our version of the American dream.
This and his performance in Fatal Attraction are the best he's ever done. Wall Street is ok and he got the award for it but Michael Douglas is by far an Outstanding Actor, Period!!!!!
He was on fire in the 90’s, actually starting in the late 80’s. Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, American President, Ghost in The Darkness, The Game.
Yeah, it's called a movie...a fantasy written by a playwright, scriptwriters in Hollywood, and acted out in front of the cameras with a director, a producer, a wardrobe master, makeup artists and they act it over and over again until they get it right. That is what it is. It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone's reality.
Cool! We have: "Silent water grinds the shores". But in this case better is: "So long they walk with a jug for wager, until the handle is torn off" - Czech :-)
@@avrahamstern4550 "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" (Poland Is Not Yet Lost), which is the first line of the Polish national anthem. Understandable when you have both Germany and Russia for next door neighbors. 🇵🇱
This is one of the most profound character studies in film. Everyone in the audience is living through him and having a hard time distancing themselves from him. Many of us have come close to where he is. He is a part of us.
Very eloquently said. I've been very close to this point in my past too.Fortunately I was able to move on, because the assholes in my sights weren't worth me going to prison or dying over.
Note that a movie like this wouldn't be possible now anymore. Movies have to be about difficult but fullfilling friendship with immigrants or gay/transsexual people.
That briefcase represents his old life, and what little sanity he has left. That's why he's so unwilling to part with it. He doesn't want to lose his one link to a normal life, where he and his education matters. Later in the film, he gives the briefcase to the guy in the park. That's his way of letting go of his old self, and fully embracing the fact that he's no longer sane.
He's definitely sane, he was literally subjected to constant narcissitic abuse. He encountered a dozen of insane people. He's the only sane one on screen.
This movie is actually one of the reasons I treat people good in public. I don't want people to fall. It's also the reason I don't push people with rudeness and such in public either. You never know where someone is at in life. I don't want to be harmed and I don't want other people to harm themselves. It feels better to smile than frown.
It's odd that I stumbled on your comment as I don't call people rude names in the comment section of youtube. I thanked a doctor for posting a summary of several recent science articles on covid and I was attacked for stating a simple "thank you" comment.
Yeah, I thought of that when I saw that shootout outside the bank in North Hollywood like the movie "Heat" -- when I realized those two guys drove in traffic to get to the bank in body armor with guns and ammo all over. They were in the car in front of you, possibly, when you thought of honking your horn and giving them the finger at one point, not realizing they were suicidal killers.
You shouldn't mistreat or take advantage of people in general, but this scene in particular is an especially important example of why its NEVER a good idea to continually antagonize someone who is, in the face of danger, being calm and courteous. I can assure you from experience, the scariest and often most dangerous individuals are not the ones that act like a tough guy, its the ones that are doing everything they can to remain civil, and once you've pushed them beyond their reasonable limits, you'll realize you've just opened Pandora's box.
This is a very movie-inspired statement. In real life, people shouting around like madmen are most likely dangerous and people who don't speak up are most likely easy victims.
And I can assure you that in real life, if this situation happened, no matter what you say, Michael Douglas would be dead. Calm or not. Lol Fuck outta here with that calm b.s. This is a movie. The shit that happened in this scene wouldn't have happened like this. AT ALL.
@@anthonyjoseph618 It takes time for that to happen. In this case, in real life, he would be dead. Just stop defending this comment. It's naive af. And if you want to test out the theory if whether or not a quiet person can be a killer then you stay quiet for a while and see what happens. lol
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams....
The absolute pinnacle of excellence of this movie is this is a textbook example of how a character arc transforms over the course of a screenplay. It starts out as justifiied behavior and crosses eventually into the fact that the Douglas has to be taken down. It is a brilliant piece of theater.
Some of us are a couple of fries short of a happy meal. I've got 2 young. bro.s & their paybacks to those who offended them make me look like G. McFly "BackTO Future"
This is typical gang behavior. A bunch of cowards that only attack when they outnumber their opponents, somebody isn't armed, they sneak up on you, or they have no chance to fight back. I like how the guy gets up and just runs away leaving his "friend" on the ground to get killed alone.
@@randomfrog7974 no they wouldnt lol. irl he wouldve been mugged and thats it. at most beat up. they arent going to decapitate someone for no reason in broad daylight.
My Grandma had this on VHS and she caught me watching it as a kid when visiting on the weekend. She about died thinking it was going to warp my mind. "It's ok Grandma, I've already watched it 3 times".
@Pacho Pacho bravo for taking 20 something minutes to look it up. Or, as I like to put it, you have no clue who they are cause they're bit actors. Michael Douglas on the other hand is an A List actor name from an acting dynasty. You are race baiting, nothing more than that. Cut the bullshit and stop trying to separate the world. There was no malice, and nothing race related in the dude's comment. By the way, their acting was sub par at best and in roughly 3 total minutes of the movie, versus the main character that starred in it throughout. GTFOH
*"Listen fellows, I've had a really rare morning..."* Its my favorite line... It complete embodies the entire film and his character in one brief sentence.
This movie has an insane number of great quotes and dialogues, but the "You forgot the briefcase!" always cracks me up the most. All in all, one of the most badass movies ever.
“Maybe if you wrote it in f**ing English I could f**ing understand it.” Oh How I wish this movie came out this year. The amount of butthurt would be classic. Awesome movie.
This movie is amazing. When you're younger you see him as the villain, but as you get older you can totally relate with him and understand why he's doing all of this. I even caught myself rooting for him at times.
A lot of men can relate to this character. They go to college, get a job, are law obeying citizens just trying to eke out an honest living in today's ridiculously expensive society. They did everything right and everything society tells us we should do and it didn't get them very far. Then they lose what little they did have... their job of 20 years or their wife divorces them and they have to pay child support and only get to see their kids once in awhile while their wife has already moved on to some new guy. Many men have a similar story. Most don't snap like this character but you can easily see how it can get to this point.
Not really, it was made at the right time. It's just gotten infinitely worse since then for most people and so, the movie just becomes ever more relevant.
@@StephenDoty84 A sequel would be kind of pointless, since the problems addressed in the movie are still very much present. Which is horrible, considering that this means that basically nothing has changed in the past 30 years.
FALLING DOWN is probably the greatest achievement in the history of American cinema in last 50 years. Michael Douglas have delivered masterful acting in this movie that deserve highest praise and accolades, his craftsmanship which he has displayed in the movie is incredibly good. Douglas is simply SUPER. IT is an accomplished American photo play of the highest order with deep analysis of sickness of American society and anatomy of an isolated person rejected by society. Joel Schumacher who directed this movie is a MAESTRO. I love this movie, so much.
@@Ed.strell scent of a woman is a shite film! Pacino only won an oscar for it because they realised they'd fucked up by not giving him one years ago when he actually deserved one!
This scene always leaves me feeling a bit giddy, I grew up on the wrong side of town and had too many confrontations like this. The Michael Douglas character portrays the tension of the situation perfectly. You just can't reason with some people. One of the marker indicators of complete naivety in people is those among us who insist 'always be nice others' as a life strategy to avoid trouble. If you signal an unwillingness to stand your ground people will take advantage of that. That's coming from a guy who's survived two murder attempts, coward punched several times, and set upon by gangs. Nice does not work.
Same! But our skills never leave. Boy do I feel like this guy now just burnt the heck out on this crap and addicts also feel like Eastwood "Get off my lawn" Be safe!
Nice works where it's needed. Being an asshole 'just in case' will likely get you into more shit than out of it. The key thing is being able to judge a situation accordingly and use your instincts while reading signals from someone you may get into a confrontation with.
When he throws the bat at that guy, he's so mad he no longer cares he's thrown it away. Even without the bat if either one of those guys had come back, he'd have torn them apart such was his rage.
well, he was breathing fast and acted intimidated so I think the gang members sensed fear. what they didn't realize is that he wasn't scared, he was getting angry.
I knew a bouncer and pro fighter who told some guy in a bar to stop talking to his girlfriend. The guy said not use that tone with him and asked him if he wanted to fight, not realizing it was literally the only thing that bouncer knew how to do. He fought almost every day for years. So he said, "Sure" in a way that was so matter of fact, I imagine, that the other guy should have paused. Instead, outside, the bouncer dislocated the guy's elbow for him.
@@StephenDoty84 Wow. Sometimes lessons are not fun. My best friend in the mid 80's was in a bar. Two guys were pinching girls butts, and just causing trouble. The bouncer who had a black belt threw them out. They started cussing him, so he started walking toward them. The next thing he knew, he got stabbed in the chest. About 20 guys came out of the bar, including my friend. One of the trouble making guys had a wooden leg, and these 2 grew up in a bad part of town. They were mean, dangerous, and weren't playing around. They turned, and acted like they were leaving, when one of them pulled out a 32 revolver, and started unloading it into the crowd. My friend got shot in the leg, and another got shot in the right shoulder. Everyone started scattering, as he reloaded, and began shooting again. My friend said they were about 25 yards out, and this guy was hitting everything in sight. 3 more guys were hit, one dying later at the hospital. 8 police cars showed up, and cornered them on a hill. Today when I talk to my friend. We both agree. If you can avoid the situation all together, or try and defuse it. Thats your best bet. I realize some are impossible to avoid, but at 56 years old, I've learned most people respond to kindness, and respect quite nice.
@albert fish George would win. George: I've been putting up with your $hit for 35 years. Maybe I'll break your arm like you broke mine back in 1955. Proceeds to do so while Biff's gang watches in shock. He then throws Biff into huge pile of manure. George: see? Thats for all the $hit I had to put up with you for 35 years. (Looks at Biff's gang) anyone else want to try me?? They take off for the hills.
@@kevinscarborough9982 Strickland would win. Strickland: you're a slacker. Just because they're slackers too doesn't mean, you can stoop down to their level. It gives you no excuse for what you did today or the past 38 years. Strickland turns him into police and/or mental institution
If only the middle. The WHOLE thing! ProPublica just revealed how the rich have gamed the system to avoid income taxes almost completely. So while their earnings and wealth have ballooned over the last several decades, their taxes have fallen too! What a scam! You and I pay thousands and thousands, the wealthy drop a buck in the bucket! Billionaire parasites destroying America with each successive tax cut.
@@DieselDog1982 stop sniffing the diesel, it's making you dumber! I'm advocating for the millions who have been disenfranchised by a system designed to steal prosperity. I'm arguing for the homeless millions who have done everything right, worked hard and still found themselves on the street. Unfortunately your assumptions reveal your limited ability to see the problem at hand. It has nothing to do with me, whether I'm a successful, smart, financially stable individual, or an uneducated poor drug addict. That's what we call IRRELEVANT! This is what makes the American situation so difficult - when you point out the systemic problems, the inane reply is always, "Well, then make something of yourself!" Sorry buddy, I'm already financially independent and enjoying the good life. When I was discussing the dire situation with an entitled rich kid, his reply was, "Well, then let's make sure we're the rich ones!" Apparently, sadism is now an American virtue. How much you can make the other suffer is the solution! And you've exhibited it perfectly! Running on the endless hamster wheel is NOT the solution. Working more hours, sucking up to the boss and kissing his ass even more makes you the biggest dupe there is. You advocate doing this so the rich can get richer and laugh at your puritan work ethic. What a fool!
@@dudeonbike800 Respectfully, you have fallen victim to less than true facts. Wealthy and very wealthy people pay multiples more in taxes. Personally, they have no assets so they, personally, do not pay. However their source of funding, "their riches" do pay taxes through various means. I am correct, you are wrong and your writing clearly indicates your anger; and your anger likely drives you deeper down the path of incorrect information.
@@vectorm4 nope, nope, nope. The rich pay far, FAR less than they ever did. The US led the world in progressive taxation. That has been undermined at every turn over the last five decades. As the rich have seen their incomes balloon, we've cut their taxes at the same time. That's called runaway wealth. I've read enough on the issues that I'll refer to Thomas Picketty, David Cay Johnston, Paul Krugman, Jacob Hacker, Gabriel Zucman and many others who simply and easily refute your weak claim. Sorry, but the published economists and authors have detailed the phenomenon as clear as day. But please, be my guest trying to assert you have a more impressive resume than just ONE of the above, much less than all of them! Laughable. And why are you here defending those who have legal teams acting on their behalf? They already own our representatives, regulators and agencies! But you're here donating your time to help those poor 0.01%'ers. What a cause you've chosen to undertake!
When someone takes a deep breath and says "I've had a really rare morning" in a very calm voice, that might be a good time to drop the BS and just leave them alone.
Always remember that a normal person not under the influence of drugs or alcohol has far superior reaction times. Keep your cool and strike like a flash of lightning, it's a winner! The shock to the second observing muppet is usually enough to make him run.
This movie when it came out was sorely under appreciated and overshadowed by bigger productions. I really don’t think a lot of the public got the meaning of this movie, looking at it now I can see the metaphor for how life burns people out to the point where they just want to get back to the basics of life or just “go home”
I almost started shit with a guy in my town in the street for giving me dirty looks. Later on I talked to him at a coffee shop and found out he was training in knife fighting for years to be a martial arts instructor and always carried a knife hidden near his belt. That could have gone wrong for me, looking back.
Unreasonable for a fella that gets hit upside his head with a bat like that not staying down for the count. He kissed him upside the cranium with a bat.
Absolutely one of the best scenes in movie history. We can all relate. A couple of turds who know how to do nothing but harass, steal from and in general be pains in the ass to the rest of the world and they run across an otherwise peaceful, honest, hard working guy on the wrong damn day. Beautiful.
So many great scenes in this movie that we can relate to. I especially like the "Whammyburger" scene where he can't get breakfast because he is a couple minutes late. Then he deals with the idiot manager. Love it.
The thing is, there's a good reason why you can't get breakfast passed a certain point. The heat at which you cook the breakfast menu is a lot cooler than the one you flip burgers on but it's the same kitchen equipment. They don't cut the menu off at 10:30 because they're trying to fuck you over, they're just using the hotplate for cooking the daytime menu. But that's what a lot of people don't understand about this movie. Sure, you're meant to relate, the movie is designed to do that. But ultimately he's just another self-centered asshole whose sure of his own moral superiority. The long arc of the film is him trying to see his kid, but the reason he can't is because his wife has had to put a restraining order out on him because of his violent tendancies.
Michael Douglas has never been afraid of taking challenging his roles which is just one of several reasons that he is considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation.
LA's finest thugs at work .... Thug: I think you should pay a toll. Michael: listen fellas, I have had a really rare morning, I'm not in the mood (interrupted) Thug: we need the briefcase Michael: You want my briefcase - I'll get it for you - .. produces ball bat instead and proceeds to give thugs a wood shampoo
Right, right?! How Newton Howard keeps playing that warped sound at 3:08 and then it resurfaces in full force after D-Fens shoots the thug after their drive by attempt, this time with drums and the horn theme. Just perfect for the realisation of his transition as he continues to fight back.
You never know what someone is going through. In the movie, "Falling Down", Michael Douglas's character is at the end of his rope and people keep underestimating him. This man has clearly come to the end. He lost his family, his job, and any hope he might have had to regain them. There is nothing more dangerous than a man who has nothing left to lose.
Everyone should be required to watch this movie before their senior year of high school. It would help prepare them in choosing what to do after graduating.
When I saw this movie as a teenager, William "D-FENS" Foster was the villain - but seeing this film today, William "D-FENS" Foster is a fuckin' badass HERO!!!!
The acting is brilliant and this is one of my all time favorite movies. Definitely it was ahead of it's time when it came out. I also love how he gets an upgrade after each confrontation.
I love how this movie plays out like a video game where every major conflict ends with him getting an upgrade.
😂😂 good point
Works his way up from unarmed to level 90 explosives expert
Hahaha for real. Win a fist fight, gain a bat. Use a bat, upgrade to a butterfly knive
That's an amazing observation haha, I never noticed that. Good on you.
LOLL
Beware the man who has nothing to lose.
yeah a lot of us are reaching that point
@@canton7180 mist are past that point. I pity the people who don't understand this.
Not even a mind
@@canton7180 funny
@@canton7180 dont worry Biden will fix everything......
My dad was a barber. Years ago, one of his steady customers got his hair cut. The following day the customer committed suicide. In hindsight, my dad is convinced the customer was planning his suicide and wanted a hair cut so he looked good at his own funeral. My dad said the customer never showed a clue he was suicidal during his hair cut. One never knows what is going on in a persons life.
Yeah Grand Torino is one of my all time favorite movies too.
Very true. I’ve been suicidal since I was a child… But most people would never know!
Maybe the haircut was so awful that it drove him to kill himself?
Maybe he wanted to make sure he looked good when they carried him away...
Yea are u sure it wasn’t the haircut that destroyed him??🤣🤣
I didn't really understand the power of this movie till I got older and life burnt me ,now I watch it it's like a documentary
False. it's a story about being a HUMAN in the U.S.
Plain and simple.
It has nothing to do with race or "privilege", and has everything to do with class, and just trying to be a decent person in a world filled with very shitty people who assume privilege.
@@zapkvr - What "Privilege?" please tell us about this.
It has nothing to do with white men..dumbass..So don't get butthurt and understand it's about someones right to relax where he or she wants Kahn.
@@zapkvr Go to sleep
@@cheesefrog646 Best reply.
The older I get, the more I relate to this character
Yeah, the f'ing rat race most people are in...
Truth, big time.
Glad this is a fresh comment heh I've had a few days like that. (I'm in IT doin' tickets how ppl do)
I was 20 (almost 21) when this movie came out and liked it then. Now, I'm almost 50, and see it in a completely different light. After half a century of seeing what a garbage dump life is it isn't just a superficially entertaining movie. The way he looks at it all he wants is an honest job, his wife and kid and to live the American dream and be left alone. Not justifying some of the things he does by any means, but I can understand him. Amazing the way age changes your perspective on things.
@Pacho Pacho - Anybody can live the American dream, it's what YOU make out of it, not what others portray it to be. My family and I immigrated here, didn't know the language, were dirt poor and after working our asses off are now successful. We live our version of the American dream.
Michael Douglas’s finest piece of acting ever.
This and his performance in Fatal Attraction are the best he's ever done. Wall Street is ok and he got the award for it but Michael Douglas is by far an Outstanding Actor, Period!!!!!
@@scottmiller6495 Just like his late father, Kirk.
He was on fire in the 90’s, actually starting in the late 80’s. Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, American President, Ghost in The Darkness, The Game.
@@kevinbuja4373 Just a Brilliant man!
Made for this respect. And basic instinct. was good acting nobody could have nailed that role anybetter in his prime 👏👌
I love how he collected more weapons as the movie progressed. 😂
Real life is actually like Mario. Coin, mushroom...
Well why would you not upgrade your weapons video games taught us that after all
@@AncapOtaku You mean this movie taught video games how to do it.
@@Cainite well I wouldn't say that's out of the realm of possibility
He even managed to collect a water gun at the end👏🏼🔫
he was leveling up with each completed quest, obtaining more powerful weapons
Lol....kinda true.
I never saw it that way before but you're absolutely right!
If this was adapted to a video game, I would buy it.
Yeah, it's called a movie...a fantasy written by a playwright, scriptwriters in Hollywood, and acted out in front of the cameras with a director, a producer, a wardrobe master, makeup artists and they act it over and over again until they get it right. That is what it is. It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone's reality.
Lol
“Beware the fury of a patient man.” - Ancient Irish proverb.
Cool! We have: "Silent water grinds the shores". But in this case better is: "So long they walk with a jug for wager, until the handle is torn off" - Czech :-)
@@avrahamstern4550 Mazel tov!
@@fumble_brewski5410 im not jewish, thanx god :D
@@avrahamstern4550 "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" (Poland Is Not Yet Lost), which is the first line of the Polish national anthem. Understandable when you have both Germany and Russia for next door neighbors. 🇵🇱
My favorite of all time is"every dog has his day"😁
This is one of the most profound character studies in film. Everyone in the audience is living through him and having a hard time distancing themselves from him. Many of us have come close to where he is. He is a part of us.
Og walter white
i think so too
Very eloquently said. I've been very close to this point in my past too.Fortunately I was able to move on, because the assholes in my sights weren't worth me going to prison or dying over.
Crap
The classic white lone wolf in rage - Im not white, but i do relate to him and i hope I never "fall down".
This teaches one of the most important lessons in life, we are all one step away from crossing the path of the WRONG person on the WRONG day
????
I've met him more than once.
@@beachcomber2008 same here I've been on both sides of the fence
We can only sit back while so many fools learn this.
A little common respect to everyone you stumble across can go a long way.
"Listen fellas, I've had a really rare morning."
"Ive had a really rare morning" has to be one of the best lines in film history. Delivered perfectly by Douglas.
I have had to tell people this before...
"I wouldn't want you people in my back yard either..." LOVE that line!
@@djsomali4414 What does race have to do with it? I dare you to answer!
@G E T R E K T 905 Good State like Alabama? LOL
@@djsomali4414 the good old race card.....nice
Note that a movie like this wouldn't be possible now anymore. Movies have to be about difficult but fullfilling friendship with immigrants or gay/transsexual people.
@@christianwouters6764 And make sure the proper pronouns are used
Gangsters: ""blah.....(regarding what the graffiti says)" Douglas: "It says all that?" Best line of the scene
Yea agree also like the line “I would not want you in my neighborhood either “,
🤣🤣 YOU FORGOT THE BRIEFCASE🤣
Well, maybe if you had wrote it in fucking English I could fucking understand it....
NOT the BEST line of the movie though....That would of been in the Army Surplus Store...
@@alexporetto3831 what did he say there? i'm sure it was a good line too
It makes me sad when he says "I'm going home" because absolutely no one cares, which, to me is what the movie is mostly about.
To see daughter with a present.
that's how it's done. no need for million dollar effects just acting done right.
We need new people to write new stories but will people want to watch them now.
WRONG .. getting BOTH is better.
I disagree...that's million dollar acting.
That briefcase represents his old life, and what little sanity he has left. That's why he's so unwilling to part with it. He doesn't want to lose his one link to a normal life, where he and his education matters. Later in the film, he gives the briefcase to the guy in the park. That's his way of letting go of his old self, and fully embracing the fact that he's no longer sane.
that was incredibly well explained and FUCK ME...you are totally on the money!
Nice one!
Wow! That’s neat. I only saw the movie once a long time ago but it impressed me.
That was the moment he became Heisenberg.
He's definitely sane, he was literally subjected to constant narcissitic abuse. He encountered a dozen of insane people.
He's the only sane one on screen.
This movie is actually one of the reasons I treat people good in public. I don't want people to fall. It's also the reason I don't push people with rudeness and such in public either. You never know where someone is at in life. I don't want to be harmed and I don't want other people to harm themselves. It feels better to smile than frown.
A little common respect for everyone you come across can do wonders for humanity.
It's odd that I stumbled on your comment as I don't call people rude names in the comment section of youtube. I thanked a doctor for posting a summary of several recent science articles on covid and I was attacked for stating a simple "thank you" comment.
That’s profund and the correct attitude
Yeah, I thought of that when I saw that shootout outside the bank in North Hollywood like the movie "Heat" -- when I realized those two guys drove in traffic to get to the bank in body armor with guns and ammo all over. They were in the car in front of you, possibly, when you thought of honking your horn and giving them the finger at one point, not realizing they were suicidal killers.
You should act like that just because is the right thing to do, not because you're afraid of the consequences.
Man, such an underrated and underappreciated film..
Definitely a hidden gem in the movie world
It's a classic, not underrated from those of my generation. If asked what my favorite Michael Douglas movie is, without hesitation it's Falling Down.
You shouldn't mistreat or take advantage of people in general, but this scene in particular is an especially important example of why its NEVER a good idea to continually antagonize someone who is, in the face of danger, being calm and courteous. I can assure you from experience, the scariest and often most dangerous individuals are not the ones that act like a tough guy, its the ones that are doing everything they can to remain civil, and once you've pushed them beyond their reasonable limits, you'll realize you've just opened Pandora's box.
This is a very movie-inspired statement. In real life, people shouting around like madmen are most likely dangerous and people who don't speak up are most likely easy victims.
The 'Phantom' has spoken. We know return you to our regular programming.
Very true
And I can assure you that in real life, if this situation happened, no matter what you say, Michael Douglas would be dead. Calm or not. Lol
Fuck outta here with that calm b.s. This is a movie. The shit that happened in this scene wouldn't have happened like this. AT ALL.
@@anthonyjoseph618 It takes time for that to happen.
In this case, in real life, he would be dead. Just stop defending this comment. It's naive af. And if you want to test out the theory if whether or not a quiet person can be a killer then you stay quiet for a while and see what happens. lol
This is the obligatory "the older i get, the more i understand this character" comment that is in every single video from this film.
This scene still holds up today, now more than ever.
For Sure! He had enough!
Racist.
@@Revelian1982 I've had enough!🤭
@@Plisken65 Munth.
@@Revelian1982 Found the abberant Lefty.
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams....
ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffk
The absolute pinnacle of excellence of this movie is this is a textbook example of how a character arc transforms over the course of a screenplay. It starts out as justifiied behavior and crosses eventually into the fact that the Douglas has to be taken down. It is a brilliant piece of theater.
Yes more subtle is the fact that you think he’s snapping throughout the day and then realize he’s been crazy for months before the story even began.
The minute he said, "Listen, fellas, I've had a really rare morning", right then and there, they should've stepped off lol.....
Some of us are a couple of fries short of a happy meal. I've got 2 young. bro.s & their paybacks to those who offended them make me look like G. McFly "BackTO Future"
He should have used the Clint Eastwood line from Gran Torino. "You ever come across someone you shouldn't have fked with? Well, that's me.
Bang on bro.
They just couldn't read the room. Should have known it was fixin' to get bad!
Michael Douglas favorite role ever, according to an interview.
I can understand that. What a classic.
@@agoldenage9918 He had enough.
Weapon upgraded to level 2
People didn’t say dumb shit like that in the 90s.
No hablo. Speaka da English?
I'd take a bat over a small knife any day in an open fight. More reach and impact, so woulndt say he upgraded here
@@beersmurff Not to mention a bat has a longer reach.
@@beersmurff I woulda kept both.LOL
This is typical gang behavior. A bunch of cowards that only attack when they outnumber their opponents, somebody isn't armed, they sneak up on you, or they have no chance to fight back. I like how the guy gets up and just runs away leaving his "friend" on the ground to get killed alone.
2 on 1 and no gun is not outnumbering. Gangbangers probably don't know this.
@@MilwaukeeF40C , so 2 isn't more than 1?
@@randomfrog7974 no they wouldnt lol. irl he wouldve been mugged and thats it. at most beat up. they arent going to decapitate someone for no reason in broad daylight.
@@everythingeverywhere-r1c frog watches a lot of movies
@@everythingeverywhere-r1c people got their heads chopped off in france for no good reason, in public in broad daylight. your argument is naïve.
My Grandma had this on VHS and she caught me watching it as a kid when visiting on the weekend. She about died thinking it was going to warp my mind. "It's ok Grandma, I've already watched it 3 times".
Still have it on VHS myself!
should be required young male viewing...
Michael Douglas, what a class actor when he wanted to be, up there with the best when he turns it on like this.
@Pacho Pacho race baiting, are ya?
Quick, what's their names?
@Pacho Pacho bravo for taking 20 something minutes to look it up. Or, as I like to put it, you have no clue who they are cause they're bit actors. Michael Douglas on the other hand is an A List actor name from an acting dynasty. You are race baiting, nothing more than that. Cut the bullshit and stop trying to separate the world. There was no malice, and nothing race related in the dude's comment. By the way, their acting was sub par at best and in roughly 3 total minutes of the movie, versus the main character that starred in it throughout. GTFOH
@Pacho Pacho dude.. that is the name of the game in Hollywood.... the actor tries to convince you they are the character they are playing..
@Pacho Pacho Yes, they played their part well. If they didn't, it would probably be two other Mexicans.
Best usage of a briefcase in a movie ever.
Where you going? You forgot the briefcase!!!
czcams.com/video/wgOYMCtv1aw/video.html
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You just got
*_breifcased!_*
I thought the briefcase in Pulp Fiction was used to great effect, too.
@@edminchau811 Good one. Also the Big Lebowski.
*"Listen fellows, I've had a really rare morning..."*
Its my favorite line... It complete embodies the entire film and his character in one brief sentence.
I think it's just the lead up to the key line: "l'm going home, clear a path".
I remember seeing this movie before I really started working and I couldn't understand why he was so mad. I get it now, Jesus do I get it.
Yup! Life beats you down and spits you out.You can't catch a break and you finally snap.
@@danielplainview926 I agree it can. I'm ready
You mean I'm not alone
I watched it as a young kid and it scared the crap out of me. now, I can fully appreciate it.
Comes to light after living, loving and losing huh?
haha love how he screamed "hey you forgot the briefcase" in the end.
He said it twice
This movie has an insane number of great quotes and dialogues, but the "You forgot the briefcase!" always cracks me up the most.
All in all, one of the most badass movies ever.
On par with "Take some shooting lessons, asshole!"
Yes
I also like "clear a path you motherfucker!"
“Well maybe if you wrote it fucking English I could fucking understand it.”
"FORE!"
...
"FIVE"
“Maybe if you wrote it in f**ing English I could f**ing understand it.” Oh How I wish this movie came out this year. The amount of butthurt would be classic. Awesome movie.
That line e would be cancelled
today . He would never work in
Hollywood again..!
Eighty Fi cent. I don't understand the concept, that's five....fiivvvvvva. You dont have V's in China?
@G E T R E K T 905 Yeah, well, whatever you are....
@Pacho Pacho yes it is.
Are people gonna have sore asses from watching it?
Never being a knife to a briefcase fight!
lol
😂👍
More like a ball bat fight.
I actually knew a guy who brought a knife to a gun fight. The guy with the gun was slow and lost.
When you are a hammer, everybody else looks like a nail.
This movie is amazing.
When you're younger you see him as the villain, but as you get older you can totally relate with him and understand why he's doing all of this. I even caught myself rooting for him at times.
He was never the villain to me. I cheered for him from the get go.
Actually when I was younger, I still saw him as the protagonist.
A lot of men can relate to this character. They go to college, get a job, are law obeying citizens just trying to eke out an honest living in today's ridiculously expensive society.
They did everything right and everything society tells us we should do and it didn't get them very far.
Then they lose what little they did have... their job of 20 years or their wife divorces them and they have to pay child support and only get to see their kids once in awhile while their wife has already moved on to some new guy. Many men have a similar story. Most don't snap like this character but you can easily see how it can get to this point.
@@notnigglergracuncate2818 me too. He plays the part that our inner selves would love to do but are too scared to.
I always liked how he took out the trash. Growing up around the same shit, I was glad to see that he delivered justice where the system failed...
A brilliant film that was way ahead of its time!
Not really, it was made at the right time. It's just gotten infinitely worse since then for most people and so, the movie just becomes ever more relevant.
It needs a sequel for life in 2021.
@@StephenDoty84 A sequel would be kind of pointless, since the problems addressed in the movie are still very much present. Which is horrible, considering that this means that basically nothing has changed in the past 30 years.
@@StephenDoty84 NO... it will just be some stupid movie about fake racism and trans rights. NO SEQUEL.
true...
FALLING DOWN is probably the greatest achievement in the history of American cinema in last 50 years. Michael Douglas have delivered masterful acting in this movie that deserve highest praise and accolades, his craftsmanship which he has displayed in the movie is incredibly good. Douglas is simply SUPER. IT is an accomplished American photo play of the highest order with deep analysis of sickness of American society and anatomy of an isolated person rejected by society. Joel Schumacher who directed this movie is a MAESTRO. I love this movie, so much.
falling down and traxi driver best films
ok Gene siskel lol
Best Performance of his career!!!!!
Lmao. You sound like those Joker fanboys. Joker is an excellent film but it’s cringe to listen to you redditors.
And nobody wanted to do it until MD saw it
They forgot the briefcase. 😆
The more I age the more I understand this guy. Brilliant film.
Why the hell didn't Michael Douglas get the Oscar for such a performance? 😥
because schindlers list and scent of a woman came out in the same year. No competition.
BECAUSE ITS A SIMPLETON SHIT MOVIE
@@dr3754 Than why did you just watch a clip from it AND scroll down to the comments?
@@Ed.strell Hollywood celebrates the poo diamonds. The poo diamonds make me weep. Never forget the poo diamonds.
@@Ed.strell scent of a woman is a shite film! Pacino only won an oscar for it because they realised they'd fucked up by not giving him one years ago when he actually deserved one!
This scene always leaves me feeling a bit giddy, I grew up on the wrong side of town and had too many confrontations like this. The Michael Douglas character portrays the tension of the situation perfectly. You just can't reason with some people. One of the marker indicators of complete naivety in people is those among us who insist 'always be nice others' as a life strategy to avoid trouble. If you signal an unwillingness to stand your ground people will take advantage of that. That's coming from a guy who's survived two murder attempts, coward punched several times, and set upon by gangs. Nice does not work.
Same! But our skills never leave. Boy do I feel like this guy now just burnt the heck out on this crap and addicts also feel like Eastwood "Get off my lawn" Be safe!
Nice works where it's needed. Being an asshole 'just in case' will likely get you into more shit than out of it.
The key thing is being able to judge a situation accordingly and use your instincts while reading signals from someone you may get into a confrontation with.
Same.
It depends on the situation.
"Listen fellas, I've had a really rare morning..."
Lol 😆😂
I don't know why. But no matter how many times I watch this, I never get tired of it.
damn this was almost 30 years ago, now we've REALLY fallen down
YOU FORGOT THE BRIEFCASE! YOU FORGOT THE BRIEFCASE!
When he looks through the hole in his shoe, that is not a skyline. The red tint and wafting heat - it's a hellscape. Purgatory.
A wonderful shot
When he throws the bat at that guy, he's so mad he no longer cares he's thrown it away. Even without the bat if either one of those guys had come back, he'd have torn them apart such was his rage.
Just noticed that, too.
This was filmed during the la riots making the movie even more intense. Such an amazing film
You're right. It's a fight scene so no one got hurt but in reality, if this were to happen, I hope Douglas' character broke the guy's arm.
Bill D wtf are you talking about?
@@stlouie88 I didn't write the comment in gang signs. Read it again and it will make sense.
@Pacho Pacho Ha ha. Wow. That's all you can come up with? HA! Have fun.
@Pacho Pacho OK
When you come across a guy who shows no fear in a situation like this. It's best to just walk away. Speaking from experience.
well, he was breathing fast and acted intimidated so I think the gang members sensed fear. what they didn't realize is that he wasn't scared, he was getting angry.
Everyone has their breaking point.
I knew a bouncer and pro fighter who told some guy in a bar to stop talking to his girlfriend. The guy said not use that tone with him and asked him if he wanted to fight, not realizing it was literally the only thing that bouncer knew how to do. He fought almost every day for years. So he said, "Sure" in a way that was so matter of fact, I imagine, that the other guy should have paused. Instead, outside, the bouncer dislocated the guy's elbow for him.
@@StephenDoty84 Wow. Sometimes lessons are not fun. My best friend in the mid 80's was in a bar. Two guys were pinching girls butts, and just causing trouble. The bouncer who had a black belt threw them out. They started cussing him, so he started walking toward them. The next thing he knew, he got stabbed in the chest. About 20 guys came out of the bar, including my friend. One of the trouble making guys had a wooden leg, and these 2 grew up in a bad part of town. They were mean, dangerous, and weren't playing around. They turned, and acted like they were leaving, when one of them pulled out a 32 revolver, and started unloading it into the crowd. My friend got shot in the leg, and another got shot in the right shoulder. Everyone started scattering, as he reloaded, and began shooting again. My friend said they were about 25 yards out, and this guy was hitting everything in sight. 3 more guys were hit, one dying later at the hospital. 8 police cars showed up, and cornered them on a hill. Today when I talk to my friend. We both agree. If you can avoid the situation all together, or try and defuse it. Thats your best bet. I realize some are impossible to avoid, but at 56 years old, I've learned most people respond to kindness, and respect quite nice.
It's shocking that the man who directed this masterpiece also made Batman & Robin.
He was trying to leave without even reaching back for his briefcase, but they had to push him; then he's ready to fight for it, and does.
Helllo Susan, How are you doing?
George McFly 8 years after the original 1985 timeline.
He finally snaps.
@albert fish Strickland would.
@albert fish
George would win.
George: I've been putting up with your $hit for 35 years. Maybe I'll break your arm like you broke mine back in 1955.
Proceeds to do so while Biff's gang watches in shock. He then throws Biff into huge pile of manure.
George: see? Thats for all the $hit I had to put up with you for 35 years. (Looks at Biff's gang) anyone else want to try me??
They take off for the hills.
@@kevinscarborough9982
Strickland would win.
Strickland: you're a slacker. Just because they're slackers too doesn't mean, you can stoop down to their level. It gives you no excuse for what you did today or the past 38 years.
Strickland turns him into police and/or mental institution
That's perfect!
Yep, this was equivalent to calling him "chicken".
He does what most people would like to do, but don’t for the potential consequences. Great indulgent film. I think most can relate.
3:06 whoa!
3:29 whoa lol
What’s great about this scene is that he insults them like five or six times as he tries to leave peacefully.
this is basically an allegory of what is happening to middle america right now.
If only the middle. The WHOLE thing!
ProPublica just revealed how the rich have gamed the system to avoid income taxes almost completely. So while their earnings and wealth have ballooned over the last several decades, their taxes have fallen too! What a scam!
You and I pay thousands and thousands, the wealthy drop a buck in the bucket!
Billionaire parasites destroying America with each successive tax cut.
@@DieselDog1982 stop sniffing the diesel, it's making you dumber!
I'm advocating for the millions who have been disenfranchised by a system designed to steal prosperity. I'm arguing for the homeless millions who have done everything right, worked hard and still found themselves on the street.
Unfortunately your assumptions reveal your limited ability to see the problem at hand. It has nothing to do with me, whether I'm a successful, smart, financially stable individual, or an uneducated poor drug addict. That's what we call IRRELEVANT!
This is what makes the American situation so difficult - when you point out the systemic problems, the inane reply is always, "Well, then make something of yourself!"
Sorry buddy, I'm already financially independent and enjoying the good life. When I was discussing the dire situation with an entitled rich kid, his reply was, "Well, then let's make sure we're the rich ones!"
Apparently, sadism is now an American virtue. How much you can make the other suffer is the solution! And you've exhibited it perfectly!
Running on the endless hamster wheel is NOT the solution. Working more hours, sucking up to the boss and kissing his ass even more makes you the biggest dupe there is.
You advocate doing this so the rich can get richer and laugh at your puritan work ethic. What a fool!
@@dudeonbike800 Respectfully, you have fallen victim to less than true facts. Wealthy and very wealthy people pay multiples more in taxes. Personally, they have no assets so they, personally, do not pay. However their source of funding, "their riches" do pay taxes through various means. I am correct, you are wrong and your writing clearly indicates your anger; and your anger likely drives you deeper down the path of incorrect information.
@@vectorm4 nope, nope, nope. The rich pay far, FAR less than they ever did. The US led the world in progressive taxation. That has been undermined at every turn over the last five decades. As the rich have seen their incomes balloon, we've cut their taxes at the same time. That's called runaway wealth. I've read enough on the issues that I'll refer to Thomas Picketty, David Cay Johnston, Paul Krugman, Jacob Hacker, Gabriel Zucman and many others who simply and easily refute your weak claim. Sorry, but the published economists and authors have detailed the phenomenon as clear as day. But please, be my guest trying to assert you have a more impressive resume than just ONE of the above, much less than all of them! Laughable.
And why are you here defending those who have legal teams acting on their behalf? They already own our representatives, regulators and agencies! But you're here donating your time to help those poor 0.01%'ers. What a cause you've chosen to undertake!
Yup, time to leave the country.
When someone takes a deep breath and says "I've had a really rare morning" in a very calm voice, that might be a good time to drop the BS and just leave them alone.
Yep.
Always remember that a normal person not under the influence of drugs or alcohol has far superior reaction times. Keep your cool and strike like a flash of lightning, it's a winner! The shock to the second observing muppet is usually enough to make him run.
Depends the type of drugs
Reality: if they want the briefcase and it's 2 on 1, give them the briefcase.
Odds aren't in your favor
@@ug333 Says who? Have you ever fought 2 cholos before?! Lol in high school most of them didnt even know how to throw punches just swang up lol
@@magavelli3199 It was really dumb when they had to take their shirts off before the fight, too. Why?
"it says all that?""
You forgot your briefcase!!!
This movie when it came out was sorely under appreciated and overshadowed by bigger productions. I really don’t think a lot of the public got the meaning of this movie, looking at it now I can see the metaphor for how life burns people out to the point where they just want to get back to the basics of life or just “go home”
what makes this even more bad ass is when we find out what was in the briefcase
A good ol' shamwhich and apple
quarf53206 It was just his lunch
@@RandomKourosh i know its just he was risking his life and beat the crap out of two gang bangers just to keep his empty briefcase and his lunch
No, he had enough of the bullshit and what is in the briefcase is inconsequential...it is his and what is his is his.
@@quarf53206:
Sometimes a man has only his principles left to defend, and likely that briefcase was full of them.
This brings to mind the old adage... "Don't start no shit, won't BE no shit!"
I almost started shit with a guy in my town in the street for giving me dirty looks. Later on I talked to him at a coffee shop and found out he was training in knife fighting for years to be a martial arts instructor and always carried a knife hidden near his belt. That could have gone wrong for me, looking back.
Michael Douglas is a ver under rated actor..he was brilliant in this
Helllo Irene, How are you doing?
He TRIED to be reasonable,lol!
Later on , all that's in the briefcase is an apple. Cracked me up.
One of Michael Douglas ‘s best. This was one of my husband’s favorite movies..
It's so hilarious how reasonable his speech is to the thugs, and they disregard all of it.
they mistaken "reasonable" for a sign of weakness
sounds like current state of affairs on a much more massive scale.
good luck
Unreasonable for a fella that gets hit upside his head with a bat like that not staying down for the count. He kissed him upside the cranium with a bat.
Criminals view everyone around them as a mark to be exploited, screwed over, robbed, killed for their entertainment. Sad
Very realistic because there are many people among us like those thugs, who have no humanity and cannot be reasoned with.
One of the greatest underrated movies of all time. it was even shown in my gun instructor class. Michael Douglas deserved an oscar for this!!
The most underrated movie I’ve ever seen! It really grew on me after the first 10 times I watched it!
As much as I like this movie, I'd say Frailty is the most underrated movie ever (at least out of the ones I've seen)
one of the best performances by any actor ever.
Without a doubt. Brilliant actor like his Dad.
One of my favorite dark films. Really well acted by everyone.
Also can we appreciate how the soundtrack is used? It's quiet and only begins to increase in intensity when William gets angry and fights back.
this film is even more relevant today , amazing job
I had forgotten how much I love that movie. It is brilliant
Absolutely one of the best scenes in movie history. We can all relate. A couple of turds who know how to do nothing but harass, steal from and in general be pains in the ass to the rest of the world and they run across an otherwise peaceful, honest, hard working guy on the wrong damn day. Beautiful.
Michaels best performance
No doubt about it.
Micheals fav movie that he ever made
This is a great movie, but I think Fatal Attraction is his best.
That butterfly knife literally saves his ass later in the film. Time to watch this classic again!
"This isn't one of mine."
Kudos to Michael Douglas for taking on this thing saying it's the best script he ever read. What a brilliant movie.
Agree👍
One of the greatest scenes from one of the greatest movies ever.
Bill Foster = D-Fens
@Baltimore Z Wad
Apparently you haven't seen many movies.
Legendary movie
@@Stevenowski THAT IS ONLY YOUR OPINION, YOU CANT CHANGE THAT FOR ANYONE ELSE
Never thought about it but the initial shot is great. Like sharks circleling around their prey.
This film becomes more relevent every year.
So many great scenes in this movie that we can relate to. I especially like the "Whammyburger" scene where he can't get breakfast because he is a couple minutes late. Then he deals with the idiot manager. Love it.
Haven't you heard the customer is always right?
The thing is, there's a good reason why you can't get breakfast passed a certain point. The heat at which you cook the breakfast menu is a lot cooler than the one you flip burgers on but it's the same kitchen equipment. They don't cut the menu off at 10:30 because they're trying to fuck you over, they're just using the hotplate for cooking the daytime menu.
But that's what a lot of people don't understand about this movie. Sure, you're meant to relate, the movie is designed to do that. But ultimately he's just another self-centered asshole whose sure of his own moral superiority. The long arc of the film is him trying to see his kid, but the reason he can't is because his wife has had to put a restraining order out on him because of his violent tendancies.
Michael Douglas has never been afraid of taking challenging his roles which is just one of several reasons that he is considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation.
Boy California needs someone like him to take care of the trash more then ever now...
Nah, California is done at this point. Just leave but don't move to Texas and vote here,
LA's finest thugs at work ....
Thug: I think you should pay a toll.
Michael: listen fellas, I have had a really rare morning, I'm not in the mood (interrupted)
Thug: we need the briefcase
Michael: You want my briefcase - I'll get it for you - ..
produces ball bat instead and proceeds to give thugs a wood shampoo
I love how they've got the terminator-like music playing in the background.. Really sets the mood. Don't fuck with this dude.
Right, right?! How Newton Howard keeps playing that warped sound at 3:08 and then it resurfaces in full force after D-Fens shoots the thug after their drive by attempt, this time with drums and the horn theme. Just perfect for the realisation of his transition as he continues to fight back.
That's the sound of 90's LA.
You never know what someone is going through. In the movie, "Falling Down", Michael Douglas's character is at the end of his rope and people keep underestimating him. This man has clearly come to the end. He lost his family, his job, and any hope he might have had to regain them. There is nothing more dangerous than a man who has nothing left to lose.
Never mess with someone who's had a really rare morning.
We need a LOT more guys like this...
“I’m the bad guy?” ….blew my mind. One of the most powerful lines in film.
Everyone should be required to watch this movie before their senior year of high school. It would help prepare them in choosing what to do after graduating.
This scene has caused more purchases of butterfly knives than any other event in the history of the Universe
I would be willing to bet the TF2 Spy has contributed its fair share.
there useless too
Faceoff too
Lol bought one yesterday because i was remembering this
Shouldn’t this scene make you want a baseball bat more?😆
Too many days I feel like this movie.
"You forgot your briefcase!". 🤣
I forgot how awesome this movie is, haven't seen it in years.
When I saw this movie as a teenager, William "D-FENS" Foster was the villain - but seeing this film today, William "D-FENS" Foster is a fuckin' badass HERO!!!!
And in 2021?... Now a God!
The only thing that separates a hero from a villain is time.
he was already a hero when the film got out - only some non-experienced, brainwashed kids ever thought he was a villain.
@@riccardodececco4404 spot on.
@Chris M We get it pal, you don't have any friends. You don't need to remind everyone on every comment.
The acting is brilliant and this is one of my all time favorite movies. Definitely it was ahead of it's time when it came out. I also love how he gets an upgrade after each confrontation.
Making California great again.
BIGLOVE4TRUTH no let's make California annex
Kevin Mengele fuck California
@@deutschland403o2 no fuck you.
I like this comment section
@@deutschland403o2 Crawl back to that shithole where you came from.