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It's known over here (to the degree that it is at all) for being the source of the THX name that Lucas later used for his digital sound system. But the movie is interesting in itself as an early pre-fame Lucas movie.

I don't remember it being a "sleeper"; I recall it stirring quite a bit of controversy at the time. It came out in the pre-Columbine "Going Postal" era. But agreed: it's worth a watch.

Falling Down is a brilliant film. I think Duvall’s sober, gentle, unfazed detective is exactly what makes it work.

The entire movie D-FENS is running into people who trigger him or push back and justify his rage. So the whole time you’re rooting for him. He’s the protagonist! And then you get to the end and the detective just doesn’t give him the same response. But you never worry that Duvall is about to be a victim. And I think it’s very difficult to portray a character who is seasoned, gentle, grandfatherly, but doesn’t come off in the slightest as prey.

The movie is a bit of a gut punch because I think it does encourage you to cheer for him sticking it to The Man and the Nazis and the corporations, only to realize ,alongside Douglas, that “I’m the bad guy?”

If we are talking underrated films he was in, my choice would be Deep Impact.

Like the other sleeper, Apocalypse Now. :-D

Don't forget Network.

> sleeper

Obligatory, I do not think it means what you think it means.

When that film first debuted, you couldn't throw a rock without hitting someone who knew of it.

I wanted to write RIP Prendergast, but since you mentioned it I put it here, whole movie flew under radar, masterpiece.

I recently read the book for the first time. Fantastic story! The best western I've ever read. Then I watched the miniseries with my wife (also for the first time). Westerns aren't her favorite, but she loved it too. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones were incredible, the whole cast did a great job, and the costumes and scenery were beautiful. We still make jokes about "We don't rent pigs." :)

We only watched season 1 because that's the one based on the original Lonesome Dove book. They make some changes, but generally only one that makes the show easier to follow. I'd highly recommend anyone to watch it. If you stick with only season 1 it tells a complete story and it's not too long of a commitment. It has everything.

RIP Duvall. You've had many roles, but this is the one I'll remember you for.

These are written years in advance. It's vanishingly unlikely that this was AI-generated or AI-edited.

No kidding. He deserves better.

RIP Duval - he inspired me too. Recently watched Apocalypse Now.

Agreed, absolutely fantastic movie.

Classic. I also love the scene where he tells the squadron of which he's just become CO that they should think of him as God.

Thanks - we've switched to that from https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/hollywood-legend-robe... above.

People see them on the screen so often they think they know them. I guess the term "parasocial relationship" has been common in the last few years to describe this.

I guess for actors and other types of artist specifically, people relate strongly to the work. It can form the basis for life memories. You remember where you were when you heard a song or saw a movie.

Because the service they render brings joy and entertainment to a large multitude of people. It is a higher visibility job than most, and is largely an individual contribution in and of the service they provide

Why do people like fictional narrative so much? I'm not sure why, other than some platitude like "forming narratives is how people understand the world". But I'm not sure why it follows that fictional narratives are so important to us.

Actors express the human condition, and that’s more difficult than you think.

To pretend to be a person that you are not, on demand, for months on end, is hard and it demands great empathy and skill.

The same reason they venerate anyone: common positive experiences.

They don't, in particular. They venerate people who have done amazing things.

Very-publicly doing work that lots of people enjoy tends to have that effect.

Because they became part of our stories through performance and iterations. We experienced their work.

why do people venerate computer scientists?

He's one of those actors that if you told me he was dead, I wouldn't have been surprised, but then you go to the theater and in some random role, there he is.