THE FAN
A film review by Michael John Legeros
Copyright 1996 Michael John Legeros
(TriStar) Directed by Tony Scott Written by Phoef Sutton, based on the novel by Peter Abrahams Cast Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, Ellen Barkin, Benicio Del Toro MPAA Rating "R" (presumably for language and violence) Running Time 115 minutes Reviewed at Mission Valley Cinemas, Raleigh, NC (13AUG96)
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The first hour is exciting. Before his character ever draws blood, Robert De Niro cuts a chilling figure as an edgy knife salesman (!) whose life is increasingly in shambles. He can't make the numbers at work, his ex-wife is threatening him with a restraining order, and, now, his favorite baseball team's expensive new addition (Wesley Snipes) is hitting his first slump. What's a psychotic fan to do? In these expertly shot early scenes, director Tony Scott (CRIMSON TIDE, TOP GUN) generates tension in the most unlikely of places. Who else would film a car-phone conversation like a high- speed chase? About the time that De Niro's character gets down to business, though, the suspense starts seeping away. Major dramatic events happen, but they don't register. Plausibility wanes, tension fades, and, finally, we're left holding the umbrella during one howler of a rain-soaked night game. The finale is so bad-- so jaw-dropping awful-- that even Marge Schott might be at a loss for words. Other umpires might call it differently, but I say THE FAN is *out*!
Grade: C-
--
Mike Legeros - Raleigh, NC
legeros@nando.net (h) - legeros@unx.sas.com (w)
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