Customer Reviews

The Fan (Widescreen)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had high hopes for this film, as I love Lauren Bacall & Maureen Stapleton. And while they're both as good as they can be, nothing can save this film from the bad script, the choppy editing, and the strange leaps in logic and story.

I can't address some of the negative elements without spoiling the film, but I'll say that some the public occurences would never have taken place without someone getting caught, some of the lines are so stilted & stiff that, even when delivered well, sound hackneyed and trite, and a lot of the shots are drawn out with little apparent point. Additionally, there are other odd inconsistencies, like Bacall treating a police lieutenant as if she hadn't interacted with him before even though they'd seen each other the day before. Finally, as much as I love Bacall, she just *can't* sing. There are several musical numbers in the film (written by Marvin Hamlisch & Tim Rice, iirc), and while she can sassily speak her way through a song, the ballads are painful. I know she's won two Tony awards; she must have won them on the strength of her acting because her voice is awful.

And the end - ugh! Aside from the problems with staging in the end, it just sucks.

This film isn't as bad as, say, Hannibal, but it's a ship that's destined to sink.

I HAVE TO SAY, AFTER I SAW THIS MOVIE IN THE THEATRE , I LOOKED FOR IT EVERYWHERE !!! BECALL AND GARDNER ARE FANTASTIC . THEIR STAR POWER COMES THROUGH .I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT .I WATCH THIS FILM OVER AND OVER , IT NEVER GETS OLD. YOU TRULY HAVE TO LOVE " OLD HOLLYWOOD " TO APRECIATE THIS MOVIE AS MUCH AS I . IT IS VERY MUCH WORTH TAKING A LOOK SEE.

I have always liked Lauren Bacall as a "tough dame" type actress and her gritty outspokeness off-stage. But this film was a mistake. Maybe in the hands of a better director it would have worked. Bacall tries to make the dilemma of an aging stage star terrorized by a psychotic stalker believable but everything is against her. She forges ahead with her "comeback" Broadway show even after several of those near and dear to her are either slashed to death or just slashed by the straight-razor weilding weirdo who sends her dirty "fan" letters. The facial slashing of poor Maureen Stapleton is downright ugly and repugnant. But it sure heals fast in time for the opening of Bacalls' show. No one could have healed that fast---the multiple slashes were DEEP. Bacall trudges through her stage show numbers surrounded by adoring male dancers. After all, Broadway has been called the Gay White Way and no aging diva would set foot onstage without adoring male dancers. James Garner is utterly wasted as her love interest. He seems to be in the movie just because the two are friends. At any rate, despite Bacall's formidable presence this is a tacky New York filmed slasher show that disappoints on all counts. Bacall deserved better than this.

Paramount should not release DVD's anymore if they continue to
edit them. ... This time they have edited the scene where the killer reads a letter in voice-over where he originally makes reference to raping a woman using a "meat cleaver." ....

It's great that "THE FAN" has finally made it onto DVD. It's a very interesting little flick. I read the heart-stopping novel by Bob Randall when I was in high school; the book is a real page-turner - there is no narrartive - it is told entirely as a series of letters and notes between all of the main characters. Being a FAN of the book, I was really DYING to see the movie. I must admit though that the movie, while extremely well-cast and fairly suspenseful, is flawed by the Hollywoodization of the ending. The ending of the novel packed a gut-wrenching wallop which is completely missing from the film. A shame.
Watch the DVD, then read the book!!

An Number One Fan (Micheal Biehn) is Obsess with a Famous Stage Actress (Lauren Bacall). When his Love Letters are Ignored, he goes on a Killing Spree on the People that the Actress knows in Her Life.

Directed by Edward Bianchi made a Clever Thriller. The Cinematography by Dick Bush are Breathtaking. The Acting is First-Rate. Based on a Novel by Bob Randall and Screenplay by Priscilla Chapman and John Hartwell. With a Wonderful Music Score by Pino Donaggio. Biehn gives an Strong Scary Performance as the Obsess Murdering Fan. The Flaws are James Garner is Wasted in a Supporting Role and The Stage Music is Awful. But This is Well Made but At times, Very Odd Movie. Original Theatrical European Cut runs 111 Minutes. Grade:B+

Whilst many would argue that Bacall and Garner's talents are wasted in what appears on the face of it to be an average thriller, on closer inspection, you will see that they are perfectly cast. "The Fan", unlike it's successor, is high on suspense and is truly edge of the seat stuff. This is a film that, although very much an 80's piece, has not lost anything in it's power to grip you and keep you entertained, right up to the finale. It is a great shame that Paramount appears to be releasing the DVD format in a shorter 95 minute length, when the UK VHS copy runs to the full theatrical time of 111 minutes approx. This film is definitely worthy of greater acclaim - see it!