I know this is a fairly old film, but I watched it on DVD again last night and was reminded of how just how much I love it. This is definitely one of my all time favourites.

From Wikipedia:

Quoted Text Falling Down is a 1993 film directed by Joel Schumacher about the character William "Bill" Foster (played by Michael Douglas) also known as "D-Fens" (named for his license plate), an engineer, attempting to "go home" for his daughter's birthday after abandoning his car in traffic on the hottest day of the year. As he passes through the city of Los Angeles, California on foot he finds himself alienated, disgusted and angered by what he experiences as he is accosted, overcharged and rejected. He becomes a vigilante as he gradually begins to accumulate weaponry and starts to force people out of his way.

The script is just great:

D-FENS is a truly memorable character, part moral crusader, part psychotic vigilante. Even where you find his actions highly questionable, he remains sympathetic. His motivation is simple - to see his little girl on her birthday.

Prendergast (Robert Duvall), a cop on the verge of retirement who attempts to track and stop D-FENS, is similarly engaging. Dealing with a neurotic wife and colleagues who see him as a coward for working behind his desk, he's the counterpoint to D-FENS: rejected by and disgusted at the world, but refusing to let it get to him.

The story moves along at a considerable pace - D-FENS is off on his journey and lashing out at the world by the 10 minute mark, and from then on it's often great scene after great scene: taking on gang-members, surviving a drive-by shooting, holding up a "Whammie burger" because they won't serve him lunch... and that's all in the first half.

Quoted Text I am not a vigilante. I am just trying to get home to my little girl's birthday party and if everyone will just stay out of my way, nobody will get hurt.

Highly recommended.