Falling Down - The Great American Lie

The Critical Drinker
21 May 202417:36

Summary

TLDRThe video script delves into the enduring relevance of the 1993 thriller 'Falling Down,' directed by Joel Schumacher. It explores the film's critique of the American Dream, portraying a society riddled with consumerism, wealth inequality, and societal indifference. The protagonist, Bill Foster, is a working-class man pushed to the brink by the pressures of a dystopian Los Angeles, leading to a violent journey home. The script challenges misconceptions about Bill's character, arguing that he embodies the struggles of those betrayed by a system that promised prosperity but delivered hardship. The film resonates in today's climate of economic disparity and disillusionment, presenting a poignant reflection on the lies of the American Dream and the potential for anyone to 'fall down.'

Takeaways

  • 🎬 The film 'Falling Down' (1993) has become more relevant and poignant over time, reflecting on societal issues that persist and intensify.
  • 💡 The American Dream is a central theme, representing the aspiration for upward mobility and success, which has been corrupted in the film's narrative.
  • 🚧 The movie uses Los Angeles traffic and roadworks as a metaphor for the stagnation and frustration experienced by the working class.
  • 👥 Bill Foster, the protagonist, is portrayed as an embodiment of the American Dream turned nightmare, highlighting the disillusionment with societal promises.
  • 🔍 The film critiques modern American culture, touching on consumerism, wealth inequality, social breakdown, and societal indifference.
  • 🧳 Bill's briefcase symbolizes his identity and the life he wants to return to, despite his actual circumstances, representing the facade he maintains.
  • 🔫 The progression of weapons Bill acquires throughout the film reflects his journey and the societal forces that contribute to his downfall.
  • 👮 Detective Prendergast serves as a counterpoint to Bill, showing his own form of compromise and the lies he tells himself to maintain his life choices.
  • 💔 A poignant scene involves a man protesting outside a bank, reflecting the desperation and frustration of those rejected by a system that promised rewards for hard work.
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bill's character is complex; he is not simply a villain but a man who has been failed by a system that didn't live up to its word.
  • 🌐 The movie's themes resonate strongly in today's world, where economic disparity, the cost of education, and the pursuit of unaffordable dreams are prevalent issues.

Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the movie 'Falling Down'?

    -The main theme of 'Falling Down' is a critique of modern American culture, focusing on issues such as consumerism, wealth inequality, social breakdown, and societal indifference.

  • How does the movie 'Falling Down' portray the American Dream?

    -The movie portrays the American Dream as a concept that has been corrupted and distorted into a dystopian, uncaring nightmare, where the promise of upward mobility and meritocracy has been exploited and turned into a lie.

  • What is the significance of the briefcase in the movie?

    -The briefcase is significant as it symbolizes Bill's identity as a working professional and his desperate attempt to maintain the facade of being a functioning part of society and economically viable, despite his unemployment.

  • How does the character Bill Foster react to the societal issues he encounters throughout the movie?

    -Bill Foster reacts with frustration and anger to the societal issues he encounters, such as corporate greed, consumer deception, and the exploitation of the justice system, which eventually leads him to snap and take violent action.

  • What is the role of Detective Prendergast in the movie?

    -Detective Prendergast serves as a foil to Bill Foster, representing a character who has also been living a lie and is on the brink of retirement. As the movie progresses, he becomes more engaged and passionate about his work, ultimately connecting the dots to Bill's crimes.

  • What does the movie suggest about the nature of societal breakdown?

    -The movie suggests that societal breakdown is a result of a broken system that encourages greed, selfishness, and waste, where everyone is out for themselves and there is a lack of care for doing the right thing or contributing to a grander ideal.

  • How does the movie use the character of Bill Foster to represent broader societal issues?

    -The movie uses Bill Foster as a symbol of the everyman, representing those who have been let down by the system, have followed the rules, and yet have found themselves economically and socially marginalized, highlighting the potential for anyone to end up in his situation.

  • What is the significance of the scene where Bill encounters a man protesting outside a bank?

    -The scene signifies the frustration and desperation of individuals who have been rejected by the system they trusted, mirroring Bill's own experiences and highlighting the theme of people being exploited and discarded when they are no longer economically viable.

  • How does the movie's portrayal of Bill Foster challenge the traditional perception of a protagonist?

    -The movie challenges the traditional perception of a protagonist by presenting Bill as a complex character who, while engaging in violent acts, is also shown as a victim of societal failures and an embodiment of the frustrations many people feel towards a system that does not serve them.

  • What relevance does the movie 'Falling Down' have in today's society?

    -The movie is relevant today as it reflects current societal issues such as wealth disparity, the burden of student debt, the struggle to afford basic living costs, and a general sense of disillusionment and anger among the populace.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Timeless Relevance of 'Falling Down'

This paragraph introduces the film 'Falling Down,' directed by Joel Schumacher, as a poignant thriller that has become increasingly relevant over time. It discusses how the movie, despite being released in 1993, captures the disillusionment of a working-class man, Bill Foster, amidst the urban decay of Los Angeles. The narrative highlights the critique of American culture, consumerism, and societal indifference, which resonates even more deeply today. The paragraph also sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the film's themes and a reassessment of its impact.

05:00

🇺🇸 The American Dream Turned Nightmare

The second paragraph delves into the concept of the American Dream and its distortion as portrayed in the film. It describes the journey of the protagonist, Bill, who is stuck in traffic during an LA heatwave and symbolizes the everyman striving for upward mobility. However, the dream turns into a nightmare as Bill's life unravels, revealing the harsh realities of wealth inequality and social breakdown. The paragraph also touches on how the film uses the backdrop of a dystopian Los Angeles to critique the broken system that perpetuates greed and selfishness.

10:02

💼 The Symbolism of Bill's Briefcase

This paragraph focuses on the significance of Bill's briefcase, which he fiercely protects despite it holding no value. The briefcase is explored as a symbol of Bill's identity as a working professional and his desperate clinging to the life he once had. The narrative follows how Bill's journey across the city leads to a series of events that arm him with weapons, reflecting his transformation and the shedding of the facade he has been maintaining. The paragraph also discusses Bill's encounter with a bank protester, emphasizing the shared experience of being let down by a system that promises reward for hard work but delivers betrayal.

15:03

🕵️‍♂️ Detective Prendergast: Bill's Nemesis and Reflection

The fourth paragraph introduces Detective Prendergast, a retiring LAPD officer who becomes Bill's nemesis. Prendergast is portrayed as an average man who has also been living a lie, having taken a desk job and early retirement to accommodate his wife's wishes. As the detective pursues Bill, he rekindles his passion for police work, revealing a side of himself that had been dormant. The paragraph also speculates on Prendergast's personal life, including the loss of a child and the potential blame placed on his wife, adding a layer of complexity to his character.

👥 Bill as the Everyman and Societal Critique

The fifth paragraph discusses the evolving perception of Bill's character and the societal implications of his actions. Initially viewed as a villain, Bill is later understood as a representation of the common man who has been failed by the system. The paragraph challenges the notion that Bill is merely a delusional individual by highlighting his moral code and his struggle against a system that is unjust. It also addresses modern interpretations of Bill's character, suggesting that his plight is universal and not limited to his demographic, thereby emphasizing the film's continued relevance.

🌐 The Modern Relevance of 'Falling Down'

The final paragraph ties the film's themes to contemporary issues, arguing that 'Falling Down' is even more relevant today than at the time of its release. It discusses the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the burden of student debt, the struggle to afford basic living expenses, and the disillusionment of the younger generation. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing that Bill's story is a cautionary tale for anyone who has bought into the American Dream, only to find it unattainable, and that it takes just one bad day for anyone to end up like Bill.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡American Dream

The American Dream refers to the belief in the possibility of achieving a better life through hard work, innovation, and determination. In the context of the video, it symbolizes the aspirational ideals that the United States is built upon, such as upward mobility and meritocracy. The film 'Falling Down' explores how this dream can become a 'Great American Lie' when it fails to materialize for individuals like the main character, Bill Foster, who despite following the societal rules, finds himself in a dystopian reality where the dream has turned into a nightmare.

💡Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist refers to the intellectual and cultural trends and beliefs characteristic of a particular period of time. The video discusses how 'Falling Down' has become more relevant over the years, capturing the zeitgeist of societal disillusionment with the American Dream and the systemic failures that have led to economic disparity and social breakdown. The movie's themes resonate more strongly today due to the widening gap between rich and poor and the disillusionment of younger generations with societal structures.

💡Consumerism

Consumerism is the idea that acquiring material goods and services is the primary focus of a society and drives economic activity. In the video, consumerism is critiqued through the portrayal of a fast-food chain that advertises delicious food but serves cheap, low-quality products, representing a lie sold to consumers for corporate profit. This reflects the broader societal critique present in 'Falling Down' about the exploitation and corruption of the American Dream.

💡Wealth Inequality

Wealth inequality refers to the uneven distribution of assets and income among different members of a society. The video mentions wealth inequality as a central theme in 'Falling Down,' where characters like a rich plastic surgeon represent the top of a social pyramid built on lies and exploitation. Bill Foster's journey across Los Angeles highlights the stark contrast between the haves and have-nots, emphasizing the systemic injustices that perpetuate economic disparities.

💡Social Breakdown

Social breakdown denotes the disintegration of social structures and norms, leading to a lack of cohesion and community within a society. The video describes how 'Falling Down' showcases a society in social breakdown, where individuals are portrayed as angry, frustrated, and self-serving. Examples from the script, such as unnecessary roadworks and a convenience store owner inflating prices, illustrate a society that has lost its sense of shared values and community.

💡Societal Indifference

Societal indifference refers to a lack of concern or interest by a society or its members in the well-being of others or the collective good. In the context of the video, societal indifference is evident in the film's depiction of people who are solely focused on their own interests, such as the construction workers and the fast-food chain mentioned. This indifference contributes to the film's overall message about the erosion of the American Dream and the failure of societal structures to support and uplift its members.

💡Briefcase

In the video, the briefcase is a symbol of Bill Foster's identity and his desperate clinging to the remnants of his former life as a working professional. It represents the facade he maintains, trying to appear as a contributing member of society despite his unemployment. The briefcase's significance is highlighted when Bill is willing to risk his life to protect it, illustrating the depth of his attachment to the idea of being economically viable and a part of the societal machine.

💡Economic Viability

Economic viability refers to the ability of an individual or entity to be financially stable and productive within an economic system. The video discusses how Bill Foster, and by extension many people, struggle with the realization that they are no longer economically viable. This concept is poignantly portrayed in the scene where Bill witnesses a man being arrested after having his loan application refused, reflecting the harsh reality that adherence to societal rules does not guarantee economic stability or success.

💡Prena Gast

Prena Gast appears to be a typographical error in the script and does not correspond to a concept or term in the video's narrative. It is likely a misinterpretation of a name or term that should be disregarded for the purpose of extracting key concepts from the script.

💡Detective Prast

Detective Prast is a character in 'Falling Down' who serves as a foil to Bill Foster. He is an aging cop on the brink of retirement, living a life filled with lies and compromises, much like Bill. The video suggests that Prast's pursuit of Bill awakens a passion in him, revealing a man who has also been living a facade. His character underscores the theme that everyone has the potential to 'fall down' and become like Bill, given the right circumstances.

💡Systemic Failure

Systemic failure refers to the collapse or malfunction of a system as a whole, often due to inherent flaws or external pressures. In the video, systemic failure is implied in the critique of societal structures that have failed to support individuals like Bill Foster. The justice system, economy, and social norms are all implicated in creating a society where people are exploited, lied to, and ultimately let down, leading to the disintegration of the American Dream for many.

Highlights

Movies like 'Falling Down' become more relevant over time, reflecting deeper societal issues.

The film 'Falling Down' critiques modern American culture, consumerism, wealth inequality, and societal indifference.

The American dream is portrayed as a framework that has been exploited and corrupted in the movie.

Bill Foster, the protagonist, represents the disillusionment with the American dream and its promises.

The movie shows how societal structures encourage greed, selfishness, and waste in the name of money.

Bill's briefcase symbolizes his identity and struggle to maintain the facade of his former life.

The film uses Bill's journey to comment on the breakdown of societal norms and the loss of economic viability for the average person.

Detective Prendergast serves as a counterpoint to Bill, illustrating the personal costs of living a lie.

Bill's character is a reflection of those who have been let down by a system that promised fairness but delivered injustice.

The movie suggests that Bill's life unraveled due to systemic failures and personal tragedies.

Bill's struggle is not just personal but represents a broader societal issue of people being exploited and discarded.

The film's relevance is heightened in today's world, where economic disparity and disillusionment are rampant.

Bill's actions are driven by a sense of moral justice, challenging the corruption and dishonesty he encounters.

The movie presents a nuanced view of Bill, not simply as a villain, but as a complex character shaped by his experiences.

The discourse around 'Falling Down' has evolved, with modern interpretations acknowledging broader societal implications.

The film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked capitalism and the erosion of the American dream.

Transcripts

00:00

you know we often talk these days about

00:02

movies that have aged badly whether

00:04

because of change in technology Fashions

00:07

attitudes or because the Zeitgeist they

00:10

captured so perfectly at the time no

00:12

longer exists but there's another class

00:14

of movies that have actually become more

00:16

potent more poignant more meaningful and

00:18

relevant as the years have passed and

00:20

one of those movies is falling down an

00:23

absolutely excellent Thriller from 1993

00:26

directed by Joel Schumacher and one of

00:28

my alltime personal favorites the film

00:31

tells the story of Bill Foster a

00:33

workingclass man caught in traffic in

00:35

the middle of an LA Heatwave who finally

00:38

snaps under the pressure and fleas the

00:39

scene what follows is an epic poignant

00:42

and often violent journey across the

00:44

city of angels as Bill tries to make his

00:46

way home in time for his daughter's

00:48

birthday and along the way the film

00:50

delivers some of the most scathingly

00:52

brutal critiques of modern American

00:54

culture consumerism wealth inequality

00:57

social breakdown and societal

00:59

indifference that you're ever likely to

01:01

see it's a film that I tried in my own

01:03

clumsy way to review several years ago

01:05

and while I had a good stab at

01:07

explaining why I found it so impactful

01:09

at the time there's a lot more I want

01:10

you to say about the deeper meanings and

01:12

themes that the film addresses so well

01:15

and maybe even a few misconceptions that

01:16

I'd like to tackle and so here we are

01:19

staring down the barrel of the closest

01:21

I'm ever likely to get to a video essay

01:24

you might be bored to Tears by this one

01:26

or you might just find it helpful and

01:27

informative I'm not really sure to be

01:29

honest but I'm going to give it a try

01:31

anyway so grab your whammy burger and

01:33

let's get started part one the American

01:37

dream to understand where this film and

01:39

its main character are coming from you

01:41

need to understand the nature of the

01:42

American dream and how it became the

01:44

foundation of traditional American

01:46

culture basically symbolizing everything

01:49

the country aspires to and represents

01:52

only then can you see how it became the

01:53

framework for the Great American lie

01:55

that permeates every aspect of falling

01:57

down in Broad terms the American dream

02:00

is the idea of upward Mobility a true

02:03

meritocracy free from the constraints of

02:05

oppressive class systems or government

02:08

bureaucracy America sold itself as the

02:10

land of opportunity a place where people

02:12

could come from all corners of the world

02:14

to make a fresh start to carve out a new

02:17

future for themselves to stand or fall

02:19

on their own merits it was a world where

02:21

even the average man could attain wealth

02:24

success and happiness with enough hard

02:26

work Innovation entrepreneurship and

02:28

good old-fashioned can do attitudes and

02:31

it represents a kind of Unwritten

02:33

contract between you and the rest of

02:35

society that if you just follow the

02:37

rules do the right thing work hard and

02:40

contribute then you'll ultimately be

02:41

rewarded it's a noble idea to Aspire to

02:44

for sure but like so many noble ideals

02:47

is ripe for exploitation and Corruption

02:49

which brings us neatly to the world of

02:51

falling down part two a hot day the

02:55

movie introduces us to our main

02:57

character Bill who's stuck in heavy

02:58

traffic because Road works are holding

03:00

everything up and in fact the idea of

03:03

pointless and unnecessary Road Works

03:05

holding up people's lives becomes a

03:07

running theme throughout this movie and

03:08

it's great to see Bill's different

03:10

reactions as he progresses anyway at

03:13

first glance bill seems to embody the

03:14

essence of the American dream a typical

03:17

white collar worker with a shirt and tie

03:19

a simple practical haircut and glasses

03:22

the kind of solid Dependable middle

03:24

class guy you can imagine working some

03:26

cushy office job in a small town in

03:28

America driving home each night to his

03:30

family in a nice Suburban house with a

03:32

picket fence what you find instead is

03:34

that the American dream has become a

03:36

nightmare Bill's driving some shitty old

03:38

car that barely even runs the air con's

03:40

out a fly is constantly annoying him and

03:43

he's surrounded by the sweltering heat

03:45

and pollution of the dystopian LA

03:47

hellscape everyone else around him is

03:49

angry frustrated and miserable because

03:52

ultimately they're all in the same

03:53

situation as him all of them are toiling

03:56

through heat and noise to work all day

03:58

and jobs they hate just to make enough

04:00

money to get through the month so that

04:01

the whole thing can start over again all

04:03

of them have been sold the same lie and

04:06

these lies become a running theme

04:08

throughout the movie from the lowly

04:09

convenience store owner who jacks up his

04:11

prices to squeeze more money out of his

04:13

customers to the fast food chain

04:15

advertising plump delicious burgers only

04:17

to serve up cheap shitty food instead

04:20

the homeless man pretending to be a

04:22

military vet to con sympathy money out

04:24

of passers by to the construction

04:26

workers doing unnecessary Road repairs

04:28

just to justify their their budgets all

04:31

of them are symptoms of a broken system

04:33

a broken society that encourages greed

04:36

selfishness and waste and all in the

04:38

name of money everyone in this film is

04:40

out for themselves nobody cares about

04:43

doing the right thing or helping others

04:44

or contributing into a grander ideal the

04:47

American dream corrupted and distorted

04:49

into a dystopian uncaring nightmare

04:52

world that only Bill seems able to see

04:54

take the scene in the fast food joint

04:56

for example where Bill tries to plead

04:58

his case to the terrified customer at

05:00

gunpoint you get the sense that he's

05:01

really trying to make them understand

05:03

where he's coming from to help them see

05:05

just how much they're being conned and

05:06

[ __ ] over by a giant corporation that

05:09

could probably make way better food for

05:11

them but chooses instead to advertise a

05:13

complete lie and deliver the bare

05:15

minimum to maximize their profits and

05:17

it's interesting when he says this that

05:19

everyone else just stares back at him

05:21

like dumb mindless cattle and the only

05:23

person in the whole restaurant who

05:25

responds to his plea as a little kid

05:27

someone who hasn't been completely

05:28

absorbed by the system yet or later in

05:31

the movie when Bill stumbles into a rich

05:33

neighborhood while fleeing from the

05:34

police cutting his hand on a barbwire

05:36

fence and angrily lashing out at the

05:38

family who live there what he discovers

05:40

instead is that they're actually just

05:42

caretakers and the house is instead

05:44

owned by a rich plastic surgeon the man

05:46

at the very top of this pyramid makes

05:48

his fortune by turning people into

05:50

something that they're not in short he's

05:52

a man who sells lies for a living and

05:55

the thing is Bill himself isn't above

05:57

these lies either which brings me on to

06:00

part three the briefcase Bill's

06:02

briefcase becomes a pretty important

06:04

item for him as a character it's the

06:06

only possession that he chooses to take

06:08

with him when he abandons his car and

06:10

it's something that he's willing to risk

06:11

his life to protect when a pair of gang

06:13

members try to Rob him but why it

06:16

contains nothing of value as we

06:17

eventually find out when he gives it

06:19

away so why does he fight so hard to

06:21

keep it why not just hand it over well I

06:23

guess there's two conclusions you can

06:25

draw from this one is that it's a simple

06:27

matter of principle for Bill he's not

06:29

willing to just roll over and give away

06:31

something he worked hard to attain just

06:32

because two [ __ ] decide they can

06:34

take it from him he's still pumped up

06:36

and angry after his encounter at the

06:38

convenience store and probably in no

06:40

mood to be pushed around by anyone or

06:42

anything it's a fair enough assessment

06:44

but I think the more interesting answer

06:45

is what the briefcase represents to Bill

06:47

as a person a briefcase is something

06:50

carried almost exclusively by working

06:52

men professionals who work in skilled

06:54

jobs men that are intelligent and

06:56

productive and actively contribute to

06:58

society men that are economically viable

07:01

this is how Bill desperately wants to

07:03

see himself despite everything he's

07:05

going through even though we eventually

07:07

find out that it's no longer the case

07:08

and hasn't been for quite some time

07:10

Bill's actually been unemployed for

07:12

months now but he still goes through the

07:13

motions of driving to work each day

07:16

wearing his office clothes carrying his

07:18

briefcase trying to maintain the facade

07:20

that he's still part of the machine that

07:22

he's a functioning part of society that

07:24

he's still economically viable lying to

07:27

himself as much as the rest of the

07:28

world's the briefcase for him is more

07:31

than what it contains it's more than a

07:33

piece of leather and metal it's a symbol

07:35

of everything that bill chooses to

07:37

believe about himself the life that he

07:39

once had and desperately wants back

07:41

again and it's interesting that he

07:43

finally chooses to give it up to a

07:44

homeless beggar after swapping it for a

07:46

bag full of guns because he recognizes

07:48

it's just as useless to that man as it

07:50

is to him now bit by bit he's letting go

07:53

of the lies letting go of the facade of

07:55

the man he believed he was and accepting

07:57

the man he is now and it's interest in

08:00

how this is reflected in the weapons and

08:01

clothes that he carries with him and how

08:03

they all follow a logical chain of

08:05

events his first encounter at the

08:07

convenience store yields up a baseball

08:09

bat and without the baseball bat he

08:11

wouldn't have been able to fight off the

08:12

two muggers who tried to take his

08:13

briefcase which in turn yields up a

08:16

butterfly knife that one of them drops

08:18

and without the butterfly knife he

08:19

wouldn't have been able to take down the

08:20

gun store owner which in turn allows

08:22

Bill to trade in his shirt and tie for

08:24

more military style clothing and his

08:26

Ultimate Weapon to take out the Haiti

08:28

Construction blocking the freeway the

08:31

very thing that started this whole day

08:33

for him it creates a nice chain of

08:35

because of Storytelling instead of the

08:37

dreaded and then bill has a bazooka to

08:40

blow up the construction crew because he

08:42

killed the gun store owner he killed the

08:44

gun store owner because he had a hidden

08:47

butterfly knife he had the butterfly

08:49

knife because he took it from the two

08:51

punks who tried to Rob him he was able

08:53

to defeat the punks because he had a

08:55

baseball bat he had the baseball bat

08:57

because he took it from the convenience

08:59

store owner and he was only in the

09:01

convenience store because of the [ __ ]

09:03

road works that made him snap in the

09:05

first place nice part four not

09:08

economically viable one of the most

09:11

poignant scenes of the movie for me is

09:12

when Bill spots a man protesting outside

09:14

of a bank after having his loan

09:16

application refused A man just like Bill

09:19

dressed in the same exact clothes a man

09:21

who did everything he was told to do

09:23

followed the rules tried to play the

09:25

game the right way only to get beaten

09:27

and tossed aside by A system that only

09:29

cared about him as long as it could

09:30

exploit him as long as he was

09:32

economically viable a man who was sold

09:35

the exact same lie as Bill that if he

09:37

just worked hard and did the right thing

09:39

he'd be rewarded for it in the end but

09:41

he wasn't and with Nothing Left to Lose

09:43

with his whole world falling down around

09:45

him he's striking back in the only way

09:47

he knows how and it's no coincidence

09:50

that as this is going on Bill picks up a

09:52

snow globe as a present for the daughter

09:54

that he's not even allowed to see

09:55

anymore A desperate gesture by a

09:57

desperate man clinging to the whole of

09:59

something better and what Melody is it

10:01

playing to the man whose whole life has

10:03

fallen down as his counterpart across

10:05

the street is arrested and taken

10:09

away I small a small you know Jesus

10:13

Christ remember when movies had this

10:15

level of thought and complexity put into

10:17

them part five prena Gast Bill's Nemesis

10:20

in this movie and in many ways the flip

10:22

side to his character is detective prast

10:25

with the LAPD an aging cop on his last

10:28

day before taking early retirement and

10:30

head into Arizona with his wife an

10:32

affable softs Spoken Man Who avoids

10:34

conflict who took a desk job rather than

10:37

walk the streets everyone sees him as

10:39

kind of a [ __ ] he's disrespected by his

10:41

co-workers busted around by his

10:43

domineering wife and even his captain

10:45

makes no attempt to hide his disgust for

10:47

the man but as it turns out he's the

10:49

only one to connect Bill's various

10:51

random crimes and pretty soon he's hot

10:53

on the man's Trail and it's interesting

10:55

because the closer he gets to his Target

10:57

the more prendas seems to come alive

10:59

again because he's finally back doing

11:01

the thing that he's actually passionate

11:03

about because the reality is that just

11:05

like everyone else prast has been living

11:07

a lie not only has he been lying to

11:09

everyone around him but he's actually

11:11

been lying to himself he took a desk job

11:13

not because he was a coward but to Plate

11:16

his unstable wife who couldn't handle

11:17

him being in danger he took early

11:20

retirement and agreed to move to the

11:21

middle of nowhere because it was what

11:23

she wanted he tried to convince himself

11:26

that he wanted it too but the more the

11:27

film progresses the more h he actually

11:30

becomes until he finally admits that he

11:32

did all of it just for her I mean I'm

11:34

assuming he did it out of guilt because

11:36

he once convinced his wife to have a

11:37

child against their better judgment a

11:39

child that subsequently died and which

11:41

he seems to blame himself for and this

11:44

next bit is entirely guesswork on my

11:46

part but I always wondered if the film

11:47

was hinting that maybe just maybe his

11:50

wife might have been responsible for the

11:51

death because pigas makes a point of

11:54

saying that he always knew she wasn't

11:55

cut out for motherhood and that she did

11:57

it entirely for him he also remarks that

11:59

it was strange his daughter supposedly

12:01

died from infant death syndrome despite

12:03

being 2 years old and apparently strong

12:05

and healthy like I say it's just a

12:07

theory and the film doesn't confirm it

12:09

one way or another but it does give you

12:11

something to think about part six bill

12:14

is everyone you know it's interesting

12:17

how the discourse around this movie and

12:18

its protagonist has changed over the

12:20

years the general perception of Bill at

12:22

the time was that he was basically

12:24

always a villain deep down and the movie

12:26

is all about gradually exposing him for

12:28

who he really is is stripping away the

12:30

lies that he tells about himself to show

12:32

the violent controlling man beneath and

12:35

the main thing they used to cite this

12:36

are the revelations about Bill's past

12:38

that gradually come out that he's

12:40

divorced that his wife took out a

12:41

restraining order against him and that

12:43

even his own mother is kind of afraid of

12:45

him a whole movie showing a frustrated

12:47

Bill arguing with his wife is further

12:49

proof that the idilic life he wants to

12:51

get back never really existed and that

12:53

the man must be living in some kind of

12:54

delusion I'll be honest though I don't

12:56

fully agree with that assessment I think

12:58

what you're actually seeing in that

13:00

video is a marriage on the brink of

13:01

collapse two people who no longer love

13:04

or even like each other trying and

13:06

failing to put on the facade of

13:07

happiness for the sake of their daughter

13:09

telling yet another lie in the hope they

13:11

can make it come true somehow later in

13:13

the movie his ex-wife specifically

13:15

mentions that bill was never violent or

13:17

aggressive towards her in any way and

13:19

that she was personally against the

13:21

restraining order because she felt it

13:22

was an unfair punishment that would do

13:24

more harm than Goods but the judge said

13:27

we should uh make an example of

13:31

so he can't come within 100 ft of us

13:34

well that sounds fair so basically bill

13:36

got screwed over by an uncaring system

13:38

that saw him as just another case number

13:40

to be dealt with instead of an actual

13:42

human being with a life thoughts and

13:44

feelings and it doesn't take much

13:46

imagination to infer that losing access

13:48

to his daughter coupled with the shame

13:50

of a restraining order put bill on a

13:52

downward spiral that ultimately

13:53

unraveled his entire life it's just

13:56

another example of Bill doing what he

13:58

was told to do following the rules and

14:00

putting his faith in a justice system

14:01

that he was assured was fair and

14:03

balanced but just like everything else

14:05

it turned out to be a [ __ ] lie and

14:07

the people that it hurts most are the

14:08

dumb saps naive enough to trust it it

14:11

almost makes you wonder how many other

14:12

people have been screwed over and had

14:14

their lives ruined because some judge

14:16

decided to make an example out of them

14:19

it's worth noting as well that bill very

14:21

much clings to the idea of being a good

14:24

man a decent citizen who isn't so much

14:26

breaking the law as standing up for what

14:28

he believes is Right pushing back

14:31

against criminals who try to Rob and

14:32

even murder him greedy corporations

14:35

screwing over their consumers

14:37

unscrupulous businessmen hiking up their

14:39

prices and corrupt local governments

14:41

making life miserable for their own

14:42

citizens just to justify their own

14:45

existence he has a moral code that he

14:47

abides by he doesn't harm innocent

14:49

people and he reacts with anger when a

14:51

convenience store owner mistakes him for

14:53

a robber he sees that as a complete

14:55

insult because in his mind he's not a

14:57

criminal he's just do doing what he

14:59

thinks is Right another thing he clings

15:01

to is the notion of being a proud

15:03

American a patriot like he's appealing

15:05

to some old-fashioned sense of shared

15:07

national pride that nobody else around

15:09

him seems to feel anymore when a racist

15:11

gun store owner mistakes his random Crim

15:14

spree for racially motivated attacks and

15:16

assumes that they're like-minded

15:17

individuals Bill's reaction is one of

15:20

pure disgust again invoking the notion

15:22

that he's American and this other guy is

15:24

something very different when he's

15:26

cornered at the climax of the movie he

15:28

explains with a kind of weary Pride that

15:30

he used to work for the defense industry

15:32

helping to protect America a noble

15:35

profession that he believes should be

15:37

rewarded another lie that he was sold on

15:40

the other hand a more modern

15:41

interpretation of bill from the big

15:43

brained individuals of today could best

15:45

be summed up as boohoo straight white

15:48

man is angry at the world because he

15:50

doesn't have all of the privilege now

15:52

pass me the world's smallest violin

15:54

again this is a flawed analysis because

15:57

it misses the fundamental point that is

15:59

more than just the sum of his

16:00

demographic Parts he's more than just

16:02

the actor playing him he represents

16:04

every person who ever fell down and

16:06

couldn't get back up again every person

16:09

who followed the rules and did what

16:10

everyone expected and got punished for

16:12

it who did everything right and still

16:14

got screwed over by a system that was

16:16

stacked against them who spent their

16:18

entire life striving for something

16:19

better only to discover that they were

16:22

not economically viable every person who

16:25

bought into the Great American Dream

16:27

only to be handed the Great American can

16:29

lie and I say this because I want to

16:31

come back to the point I made at the

16:32

beginning of this little essay why this

16:35

film is even more relevant today than it

16:37

was in

16:38

1993 well I'll tell you why in a world

16:41

where the gap between rich and poor has

16:43

never been wider where kids are pushed

16:45

into expensive colleges to get useless

16:47

degrees that leave them with debts they

16:48

can never hope to repay where people are

16:51

making six figure salaries but can

16:52

barely afford the rent where the very

16:55

idea of owning a home is a crazy pipe

16:57

dream belonging to previous gener ations

16:59

where people are more Angry more

17:01

isolated more medicated more exploited

17:04

and more overwhelmed than at any time in

17:06

human history where young people are

17:08

quietly giving up on a society that

17:10

blatantly doesn't care about them

17:12

anymore this movie is more relevant than

17:14

it ever [ __ ] was that is what Bill

17:18

represents he's everyone because

17:21

everyone has the potential to end up

17:23

just like him all it really takes is one

17:26

bad day

17:29

anyway that's all I've got for

17:32

today go away now

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American DreamSocial CommentaryCultural CritiqueCharacter StudyLA HeatwaveWorking ClassConsumerismWealth InequalitySocietal DecayFilm Analysis
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