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Standing Up, Falling Down

Name: Standing Up, Falling Down
Director: Matt Ratner
Released: 2020
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

7.4/10

Good

2020

Not Rated

Director

Matt Ratner

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Standing Up, Falling Down is a character-driven study of human frailty that centers on two men navigating professional and personal displacement. The narrative finds strength in its deconstruction of traditional success, focusing instead on the messy reality of healing and subjective morality. However, the film's demographic scope appears limited. The focus on male-coded archetypes and the lack of specified racial or queer identities suggest a narrative that may rely on more conventional social frameworks. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its thematic interest in personal ability to act. It trades the pursuit of upward mobility for a deeper look at how individuals reconcile with their perceived failures.

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Category Breakdown

Does Standing Up, Falling Down have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly mention LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The narrative focuses on an unlikely friendship without confirming queer themes or challenging assumptions about straight relationships.

How does Standing Up, Falling Down portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on male-coded archetypes, such as a comedian and a dermatologist. While it explores vulnerability, there is no evidence of women taking a leading role or challenging gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Standing Up, Falling Down?

Fair

The setting spans Eastern Long Island and Los Angeles, but the protagonists' racial identities remain unspecified. The score reflects a potential for traditional archetypes without explicit non-Anglo-Saxon representation.

How does Standing Up, Falling Down represent religion and culture?

Good

The film disrupts conventional success metrics by framing personal flaws and failures as central human experiences. It prioritizes personal healing over the pursuit of traditional social or professional status.

Does Standing Up, Falling Down include disability representation?

Fair

The portrayal of an alcoholic dermatologist introduces themes of substance use disorder and mental health. This offers a potential for nuanced depictions of invisible disabilities and personal struggles.

Present on Screen

Explores nuanced themes of mental health and substance use through the character of the dermatologist.
Challenges traditional social hierarchies by centering on characters who have experienced professional failure.
Focuses on personal healing and the rejection of conventional success metrics.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
The narrative focus on male-coded archetypes limits the presence of women's roles.
Provides no specific evidence of racial or ethnic diversity among the protagonists.

Official Synopsis

An unlikely friendship kindles between a struggling stand-up comedian from L.A. — forced to move back home to Eastern Long Island with his tail between his legs — and a tragically flawed, but charming and charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist. Discovering to be kindred spirits, each helps the other find healing, in addition to the confidence to face the "failures" in their lives.

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