Talk:Falling Down

D-FENS, AKA William "Bill" Foster

I think the lead and cast section should include both monikers to make it clear to the reader up front or scanning the cast. I haven't seen the end credits recently, but many sources say the character is listed as "D-FENS"[1] or "D-Fens"[2]. The trailer[3] says "Bill Foster". The mother's end credits are also "D-FENS's mother"[4]. I don't remember where his name is said in the film, but guessing one or more of these: when he runs the plates, with the mother[http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/f/falling-down-script-transcript-douglas.html] or in the bedroom, interacting with his ex-wife (live or on tape). I think whatever the end credits say should be first, followed by the extra names. If you think it should be something else, please explicitly point out some guideline (like in MOS:Film) or significant examples.— Preceding unsigned comment added by StrayBolt (talk • contribs) 14:05, August 2, 2018 (UTC)

Film category

People seem to have different ideas of the correct category for this film. It changes every few weeks (or even days) between action, thriller, satire, ... — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.251.76.42 (talk) 09:41, 2021 August 24 (UTC)

Article revision.

The article on Falling Down I feel needs a revision.

There should be a more accurate description of the movie's plot. Falling Down is about William Foster (Michael Douglas) a disgruntled laid off defense worker who has a mental breakdown, abandons his car in the middle of traffic, and goes on a violent rampage. Martin Prendergast (Robert Duvall) a retiring police sergeant and foil to Foster, starts solving the puzzle to stop his rampage.

There should be a "Themes" section. The three themes in Falling Down are, Post Cold War, Los Angeles, and Mental Health. The film's screenwriter Ebbe Roe Smith said in the 2009 DVD commentary that Falling Down is about where the extra ordinary meets the ordinary. Michael Douglas, Ebbe Roe Smith, Joel Schumacher, and L.A. Times writer Shawn Hubler talk about the film's themes in the commentary for the 2009 DVD and Blu-ray release of the film.

The production of the film should give out an accurate description.

Ebbe Roe Smith was inspired to write Falling Down after reading a news story where, on the L.A. Freeway system, an angry trucker snapped and started to ram and shove people off the road as he was driving. Producers Arnold Kopelsen and Anne Kopelsen brought the script to Michael Douglas in 1991. Ebbe originally wrote a scene where Foster came across a plastic surgeon giving out a birthday party for one of their children, and Foster humiliated the plastic surgeon's wife by forcing her to strip and show all her surgeries. Director Joel Schumacher changed the scene to what we got, which is his encounter with the caretaker and the caretaker's family because Schumacher felt Foster making the plastic surgeon's wife strip would make audiences loose sympathy for him.

Joel Schumacher said that they were originally going to shoot the Whammy Burger scene in Inglewood, but the cops told them not to go there because of the riots. The Whammy Burger scene was shot at a burger place called "Angelo's Burgers" in Lynwood California.

I found this information from the 2009 DVD and Blu-ray releases of Falling Down. The special features "Deconstructing D-FENS" and the commentary with Michael Douglas, Joel Schumacher, Ebbe Roe Smith, Paul Hirsch, Michael Paul Chan, Vondie Curtis Hall, Frederic Forrest, and Shawn Hubler. 2600:6C40:5900:29C6:40C3:6FB2:C2A8:1AE6 (talk) 04:19, 8 March 2025 (UTC)

Leaves him to die

There has been a (near) edit war recently over the plot.....one point of contention is the gang guy Foster shoots in the leg and "leaves to die". Seems to me like that part should be left out because (if I am not mistaken), we never learn if the guy died or not. I don't think Foster said that was his intent either.Rja13ww33 (talk) 17:49, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

It's not an edit war when you're dealing with an WP:LTA. See WP:DENY. Jauerback^dude?/_dude. 19:19, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

Pardon me. Perhaps I should have not used that term.Rja13ww33 (talk) 19:52, 10 March 2025 (UTC)

I'm concerned by this. The LTA to whom I refer is obsessed with this page and I believe them to be Fourlaxers. They edit children's TV programmes and also love Monty Python. I think Barry Won should be check usered as a result. I know they've edited for a long time but it's quacking to me. NEDOCHAN (talk) 17:31, 12 March 2025 (UTC)

Well forgetting about the other editor (or LTA, DENY, or whatever)....what is the argument to keep the "leaves to die" statement in? (This is me asking.)Rja13ww33 (talk) 22:39, 12 March 2025 (UTC)

Leaving someone to die doesn't mean they die, it means you do nothing to prevent them from doing so. NEDOCHAN (talk) 22:43, 12 March 2025 (UTC)

Ok, but the movie says nothing about him dying.....nor does Foster say that was his intent. And shooting someone in the leg isn't exactly a surefire way to get there...so I just don't follow the introduction of that phrase.Rja13ww33 (talk) 00:00, 13 March 2025 (UTC)

Nothing has been introduced; if you're not a persistent LTA and want to reinstate the preference of an LTA and therefore encourage their persistent sockpuppetry, be my guest. The alternative would be to leave it as is. NEDOCHAN (talk) 00:33, 13 March 2025 (UTC)

Whether or not this phrase was removed by a sockpuppet is rather irrelevant. There's nothing in the actual film which indicates the intentions of the character in this repect. Do the filmmakers wish to imply that he is left for dead? Quite possibly, but we can't include a detail which isn't explicitly shown. Barry Wom (talk) 14:04, 13 March 2025 (UTC)