The Fan * (1996, Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, Benicio del Toro, John Leguizamo, Patti D’Arbanville) – Classic Movie Review 12,949

Tony Scott’s disappointing 1996 American sports psychological thriller film The Fan stars Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, Benicio del Toro, John Leguizamo, and Patti D’Arbanville. It was a box office flop.

Director Tony Scott’s 1996 American sports psychological thriller film The Fan stars Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, Benicio del Toro, John Leguizamo, and Patti D’Arbanville, and is based on the 1995 novel by Peter Abrahams.

Star baseball player Bobby Rayburn (Wesley Snipes) is the object of obscure over-interest for has-been knife salesman Gil Renard (Robert De Niro), a troubled baseball fan. Renard’s favourite team is the San Francisco Giants, and they have just signed a $40 million contract with Rayburn, his favourite player. Renard’s ex-wife Ellen (Patti D’Arbanville) obtains a restraining order to keep him away from herself and their son.

A mix of Death of a Salesman and the 1981 movie The Fan, this has good intentions as a serious-minded thriller and character study but gets nowhere slow.

The Fan is a murky, creaky, undistinguished old thriller, with everyone in an excellent cast trying hard but off their best form. It would be possible to admire the the direction, performances, Hans Zimmer’s score and the electronic and hip hop soundtrack, but the film is a huge let-down and disappointment.

Also in the cast are John Leguizamo, Benicio Del Toro, Patti D’Arbanville, Chris Mulkey, Dan Butler, and Kurt Fuller.

On a fairly high budget of $55 million, it grossed only grossed $18,626,419 in US and Canada cinemas, and took a total of $42 million worldwide at the box office.

The cast are Robert De Niro as Gil Renard / Curly, Wesley Snipes as Bobby Rayburn, Benicio del Toro as Juan Primo, John Leguizamo as Manny, Patti D’Arbanville as Ellen Renard, Ellen Barkin as Jewel Stern, Charles Hallahan as Coop, Brandon Hammond as Sean Rayburn, Andrew J. Ferchland as Richie Renard, Chris Mulkey as Richie’s stepfather Tim, John Kruk as Rayburn’s teammate Lanz, Dan Butler as Gil’s boss Garrity, Kurt Fuller as Jewel’s co-worker Bernie, Stanley DeSantis as Stoney, Don S. Davis as Giants’ manager Stook, Michael Jace as ticket scalper, M. C. Gainey as Giants fan, Aaron Neville as himself (opening game singer), and Jack Black as a radio broadcast technician.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,949

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Robert De Niro in Cape Fear.