The Fan (DVD 1999)

This film is not really that much about Baseball, well it is obviously but the focus is more on a man who's whole life has slowly been going down the pan and now when it has hit rock bottom, he starts to develop a dangerous obsession.
Robert De Niro plays Gil Renard a knife salesman who's life has been slowly going down the apn ever since he stopped playing baseball as a kid. His wife has left him, his relationship with his kid is unstable, the business that his father built up is slowly deminishing, and just when he thinks it can't get ny worse, he is finally sacked.

The only thing that seems to be good in Gil's life is his great love for baseball. He has been a big fan of the 'Giants' since childhood, his favourite player being Bobby Rayburn. However, his love soon becomes a dangerous obsession and he finds himself doing incredible things so that Bobby can win at all costs.

Robert De Niro is absolutely fantastic in his role as the obsessed baseball fan Gil Renard. In fact he is very good in all of the films where he plays crazed obsessed people, such as 'Taxi Driver', however in this film his acting really is second to none. Wesley Snipes is also very good in his role as baseball player Bobby Rayburn, and his performance is rather overlooked by De Niro's which i think is a shame as he is again, very good. Patti D'Arbanville plays Gil's divorced wife, and Andrew J. Ferchland plays Richie, Gil's son, both are good also in their roles.

Overall, 'The Fan' really is a brilliant movie, which i think has been forgotten amongst others of the same genre. Fans of Robert De Niro or/and Wesley Snipes will love it, as will action/thriller fans in general. If you are looking for a well-acted slightly spooky movie, then look no further.