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.

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?”

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.

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.