THE FAN
US, 1996, 116 minutes, Colour.
Robert de Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, John Leguizamo, Benicio del Toro, Patti D' Arbanville, Chris Mulkey, Kurt Fuller.
Directed by Tony Scott.
Directed by Tony Scott, best known for action shows like Top Gun, Crimson Tide. This is one of his best films and the pace, especially the first part, carries the audience headlong. We are introduced to a salesman on the skids, divorced and about to lose his job (De Niro), and a top baseball star (Snipes). It is not hard to guess what is going to happen when we see the salesman as the intense fan.
De Niro has done this kind of thing before, manically in The King of Comedy when he pursued TV host, Jerry Lewis, and diabolically in Cape Fear both for Martin Scorsese. He plays in lower key here but is no less frightening, especially as his situation is not too far-fetched and his fanaticism and ultimate violence are a victim of society breaking out in madness. (Audiences may remember a similar Michael Douglas in Falling Down, a useful companion film to The Fan.)
Topical psychological thriller.
1.The films of Tony Scott, action, pace, violence? British director? Dramatising Americana?
2.The baseball setting, San Francisco, homes, workplaces, authentic atmosphere, the score?
3.American love for baseball, the national sport, spirit, fans, fanatics? Adults and children? Little League? Coaches, parents? The effect of baseball in the consciousness of Americans?
4.For overseas audiences, for sports fans?
5.Robert de Niro’s portrait of Gil? His screen presence, age, father, with his son, the company, his work, sales, failure? His encounter with the bosses, his father founding the firm, his anger with them? Their ousting him? His anger in the clashes? His relationship with Ellen, the break-up of the marriage, her antipathy towards him? Her being with Tim? His relationship with his son, taking him to the match, leaving him alone, his desperate attempt to regain his job, late, coming back to the match, his son gone? Going home, intruding in the house, the pizza, placating his son? Ellen and her upset? Wanting the police? His being the subject of a restraining order? His phone calls while driving, the discussions with Bobby, with Jewel, her co-host? The meaning of his life, sport and his memory of his own abilities as a child, injuries, failure? Obsession, the pursuit of Bobby?
6.Gil as a fanatic, his wife afraid, his son afraid? His going to the practice, abusing the coach, disobeying the restraining order? Bobby and his injuries, Gil continuing to support him, being anti-Johnny? His obsession with Johnny, his number, his killing him, taking the skin with the number? His stalking Bobby, saving the boy in the ocean, wearing the clothes, the jersey? The pool game, the discussion with Bobby, Bobby saying he didn't care any more? Abducting his son, talking to him in the car, taking him to Coop, his admiration for Coop? Pitching the ball at Bobby, pitching it at the boy? Coop trying to save the boy, his killing Coop? The radio threat, menacing Bobby, appearing as the catcher, the showdown, the violent confrontation, his being shot by the police?
7.Wesley Snipes as Bobby, in himself, champion, transferring teams, the forty million dollars? His working with his agent? The interview with Jewel and her belittling him? The discussion with Gil? The game, the collision, his injury, the agent forcing him to go back, his poor season, the crowds turning against him? Johnny as the up-and-coming player, relationship with Bobby? The encounter in the dressing room with Gil, his being killed? Bobby and his improvement, playing with his boy, Gil saving him? His explanation that he didn't care any more? Gil’s taking this badly, the crisis, his having to bat and be successful, his striking out? The intermittent rain, the suspense? The confrontation with Gil on the pitch?
8.Jewel, the radio commentator, her taunting people, her regressiveness, her co-host, his clashing with her? Her participating at the end in trying to save the boy and Bobby?
9.The portrait of the agent, his work, his influence on his client, participation in the final climax?
10.The police, their working out who Gil was, going to the hiding place, finding the boy?
11.The apocalyptic ending, the violence? Going to the photos of Gil when he was young, full of promise, failure, the consequences?
12.Cinema action, a fable about success and fanaticism via drama and sensation?
