“Trap but in Baseball Stadium”

Dir: Tony Scott
Prod: Wendy Finerman
Writ: Phoef Sutton, Peter Abrahams
Cast: Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, John Leguizamo, Jack Black, Benicio Del Toro

The Fan (1996), directed by Tony Scott—the man who brought you Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, Crimson Tide, and True Romance—stars Robert De Niro as Gil, a knife salesman who becomes obsessed with Bobby, played by Wesley Snipes. When Bobby’s career begins to go downhill, Gil will do anything—no matter how dangerous—to help him.

So why do I say Trap? Because M. Night Shyamalan’s recent movies, like Old, have a similar throwback action-thriller vibe, much like this one. I’m going to compare it to films like Money Monster (starring George Clooney), Out of Time, and John Q (both starring Denzel Washington). The Fan is one of those movies that’s fast-paced, claustrophobic, filled with action and suspense, with a surprisingly great soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and stunning sunset cinematography by Dariusz Wolski (the cinematographer who frequently works with Tony Scott’s brother, Ridley).

The story is simple but the stakes are high. We see that Gil is actually a very unlikable character—he’s being trashed by his friends, struggling to reconnect with his son after a divorce, and doing things that are dangerously insane and uncomfortable for those around him. As for Bobby, his career is already on the decline. Somehow, Gil and Bobby connect because they’re both flawed individuals, each at a low point in their lives. However, because Gil is so obsessed with Bobby, he’ll do whatever it takes to save Bobby’s career—even if it means committing dangerous acts, like killing someone.

The performances from De Niro and Snipes are excellent, though Snipes’ character is somewhat underdeveloped. John Leguizamo as Bobby’s assistant, Benicio del Toro as Bobby’s teammate, and Ellen Barkin as a radio host all have a blast playing their roles. These three supporting characters steal the spotlight alongside De Niro.

Sadly, the film flopped with both critics and audiences and was a box-office failure. I think it deserved better marketing and fanfare because it’s one of Tony Scott’s best movies, alongside Unstoppable, and far superior to Beverly Hills Cop II in my opinion.

Overall, if you were disappointed with Trap, I promise you won’t be disappointed with The Fan, thanks to its great acting, a strong plot, fantastic cinematography, and the awesome score by Hans Zimmer. This is one of Tony Scott’s best films and definitely one of his hidden gems. My rating: B+.