He was very underrated in Falling Down, a sleeper of a film everyone should see at least once.

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.

Don't forget Network.

Like the other sleeper, Apocalypse Now. :-D

> 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.