Movies - The Fan

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	Movies - The Fan

The Fan is a 1996 thriller film directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, and Benicio del Toro. Based on the novel by Peter Abrahams of the same name, The Fan is a psychological thriller that follows Robert De Niro's character, Gil Renard, as he progresses into his own insanity. The majority of the film revolves around the sport of baseball, and explores the overt dedication displayed by some of its fanatics.

While the film did poorly in theaters and was generally regarded by critics as a flop, The Fan is often considered to be underrated by movie goers from communities such as IMDb.

Plot summary

Gil Renard, a struggling knife salesman, is a temperamental divorcé who has been neglecting his responsibilities - namely his son, whom Gil awkwardly attempts to parent, and his job, which he is on the verge of losing due to poor sales. Between balancing the two, Gil displays a fervent loyalty to his favorite sport, baseball, and his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. Gil has been following the career of the Giants' newest player, Bobby Rayburn (Snipes), since day one. Overjoyed that his favorite player has partnered with his favorite team, Gil begins to take an even greater risk with his job by attending several games during work hours. In an attempt to repair his destitute relationship with his son, Gil forces Richie to skip school in order to watch a game with his father.

To Gil's excitement, the extensively hyped Rayburn quickly begins to deliver, and the fans respectfully display their appreciation. However, after Rayburn suffers a leg injury, his performance begins to decline, and the fans likewise criticize his inability to live up to their expectations. The frustrated Gil, who has just lost his job, begins to aggressively show his loyalty and support to his favorite player. Instead of enjoying the time spent watching the Giants' games, Gil engages in altercations with other fans, often to the point of overzealousness.

Gil's ex-wife, Ellen, is disgusted by her former husband's irresponsibility and works to stop him from seeing their son, who gradually begins to fear his father. Ellen's attempts succeed, and Gil is issued a restraining order against his son. With his job and son lost, Gil delves deeper into a dark, aggressive disposition from which he will not escape. The fanatic Gil Renard once again turns to his love for baseball to solve his problems, and decides that a teammate of Rayburn's, Juan Primo (del Toro), is to blame for his favorite player's slump. Gil confronts Primo in a sauna and explains to the ballplayer that he believes Rayburn's decline in play is directly the result of Primo's competitiveness, since Rayburn took over Primo's spot at center field, but did not let him use his lucky number of 11 on his jersey. When Primo brushes off the fan's concerns, Gil proceeds to murder the left fielder with one of his makeshift knives.

While San Francisco grieves at the death of a beloved ballplayer, Rayburn begins feeling guilty for his teammate's death. Ironically, shortly after Primo's death, Rayburn starts playing well again, ending his slump. Gil, convinced that what he did was a service to Rayburn and the Giants, becomes even more personal with his fanaticism towards Rayburn. Eventually, he comes across Rayburn's beach house, making himself out to be an innocent, harmless fan who stumbled onto private property. Rayburn is greatly relieved when Gil helps save his son who nearly drowns, and invites him inside.

After conversing about baseball and the like, Gil and Rayburn engage in a game of catch on the beach. During their conversation, Rayburn admits to Gil that he lost some respect for the fans, remarking that when he performs well, they love him, and when he slumps, they hate him. Gil's temper rises when he hears his favorite player criticize the fans of the game. He begins playing aggressive with the ballplayer, and eventually speaks his mind on the matter, slightly disturbing Rayburn. Gil eventually leaves the beach house, but Rayburn discovers that Gil has kidnapped his son and is fleeing in his Hummer.

Gil, disillusioned with his Rayburn's disrespect towards the fans, spirals further down into insanity, pretending that Rayburn's son is his own, and eventually killing a former friend of his on the way to a little league baseball field where he plans to hide the center fielder's son. After doing such, Gil contacts Rayburn and makes one demand: hit a home run in the upcoming game, dedicating it to Gil, "a true fan," or his son dies. With the police on high alert, while at the same time searching for Rayburn's son, Gil enters 3Com Park. Gil, under the disguise of the home plate umpire (who he presumably killed before stealing his uniform), watches as Rayburn struggles with his emotions at the plate. After several pitches, Rayburn is able to place the ball deep into the outfield, and begins running the bases. Rayburn, attempting to score an in the park homerun, comes into a close play at the plate. He is called out, though it appears that he is indeed safe. Rayburn begins to argue with the umpire, accusing him of letting his son die due to what he sees as a lousy call. The umpire upholds his decision, but it doesn't take Rayburn long to figure out the umpire is his son's kidnapper. Dozens of police swarm onto the field, pointing their firearms at the maniacal Gil Renard. Gil, despite warnings from the police officers, goes into a pitching motion with a knife in hand, and is shot dead before he can continue his wind-up.

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