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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suspense filled drama with bite, July 31, 2002
Quite a while before "stalking" as such was as widely known and reported on as it is nowadays this taut little suspense drama "The Fan", came along which I feel for the time, told an original story and filled it with good performers and edge of the seat situations.At the time of its release "The Fan" based on the thriller novel by Bob Randall got alot of flak about some of the bloody scenes and the unnecessary violence but I feel it tells the story well and really is not excessive in its depiction of an ardent fan who loves an actress and slowly becomes obsessed to the point of hatred when his advances are ignored. The real strong point of "The Fan" is in its perfect casting in all departments with both old and new performers. Central to all of the story and action is veteran actress Lauren Bacall in one of her rare starring roles in the 1980's. She portrays Sally Ross, one time Hollywood actress now successful Broadway actress who becomes the unwilling object of one fans over the top adoration. Bacall brings a great deal of style to her performance here and it really is a performance that comes from the old school of Hollywood acting , with glamour, witty lines and lots of cigarette smoking!! All the insider lines about fan letters and publicity and nerves about the next career move are all interwoven into the script in a naturalistic manner which makes you feel that Lauren Bacall could have been using her own experiences to build up the script. She makes Sally a multi dimensional character with elements of bitchiness, insecurity and confidence all rolled into one. She really makes the film and there's alot of insider bits about Hollywood and Broadway ups and downs to make the performance just a trifle auto - biographical. James Garner also makes a welcome return to mainstream acting in the role of Jake Berman, Sally's ex husband and still best friend who finds himself having to literally protect Sally as the tension of the story mounts. While his is a supporting role he makes the most of his scenes . His and Bacall's interplay is really a pleasure to watch as two old style performers really show what screen chemistry in the old Hollywood was all about. The really star making performance in this film however absolutely goes to Michael Biehn in the role of the obsessive fan Douglas Breen. I think he was sensational in this performance as a lonely young man who develops an obsession on star Sally Ross which goes from interest in her, to love, and then through frustration, to hatred and attempted murder. He brings all the right qualities to his performance and is at times both pathetic and scary. His violent scenes where he attacks Sally's personal assistant Belle Goldman (beautifully played by veteran actress Maureen Stapleton)and Sally's leading man in the swimming Pool are harrowing but really add to the high drama of the piece. I'm surprised that after such a great performance in his first feature film after numerous television acting roles that Michael Biehn went into action flicks when he had such great talent for drama. The overraul look of "The Fan" is great and it really captures that exciting atmosphere of the Broadway world very well. The one major failing of the production however is the absolutely God Awful musical production that Sally is rehearsing while being stalked by Douglas Breen. It is atrocious and I couldn't imagine it ever entertaining a New York audience for more than one second little alone becoming the hit of the season. The well staged climax of the story as Douglas traps Sally in the dark and empty Broadway theatre is terrific and really brings the story to an exciting climax as Sally is first pursued and then cornered by her former admirer and has to turn the tables on him by pretending to want to be with him to be able to get away. This climax is taut, has minimal dialogue, and really uses all the elements of the theatre to great effect in creating an edge of the seat finale to the story. Lauren Bacall really has a star role here and I feel she brings all her decades of great acting experience to the fore to make a great impression as fading star Sally Ross. Matched all the way by Michael Biehn it is a unique blending of old and new acting and the two really lift "The Fan" up to being a great little thriller to engross you as it does me with each screening.
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