Lately debuted 39-year-old Edward Bianchi, based on the novel by Bob Randall, released the thriller “The Fan” with experienced stars Lauren Bacall and James Garner. Also, this film brought fame to Michael Bean, then only a 24-year-old actor, who played the title role.
Despite the Italian roots of the director and composer-Italian Pino Donaggio, Edward Bianci missed the opportunity to make an American gallo, as Ken Hughes tried to do in the evening school released in the same year. Unfortunately, Hughes’s career on this unusual slasher ended, but Edward Bianchi, despite not too good box office, feels quite good on television, shooting rating series. In many ways, Bianchi’s debut turned out, although there are not enough suspense scenes for the thriller, and too little attention is paid to the personality of the fan for the drama. Even there is a feeling that the director almost all the time slept in the director’s chair, leaving everything to the assistants, and woke up only in the finale, where he not only succeeded a lot in the horror scenes, but also shed light on the motives of the criminal.
Bean's hero is obsessed with aging prima largely because of his own unnoticed existence. He seriously believes that he knows about Sally Ross' feelings, can make her life better, give her his love. Once in the window, his gaze falls on the razor, and this simple tool becomes a weapon in his hands. With it, he can get closer to his dream.
Bianchi, as Katherine Bigelow later in "Crown Steel", shows how a ruthless killer wakes up in a simple man. It turns out that violence is peculiar not only to the declared elements, but also to completely law-abiding citizens who cannot resist the temptation of power that a razor gives in their hands.
Of course, Michael Bean loses the image of an obsessive fan to Michael Ironside, who a year later played in the more impressive thriller Visiting Hours. But unmistakably play their roles Lauren Bacall and James Garner, and the talented Hector Elizondo together with Maureen Stapleton perfectly create the background. A little later in Germany, an outstanding drama with elements of the thriller “Admirer” was released, where the main attention is paid to the title heroine.
The Fan is filmed in a typically American tradition, where villains rarely get enough screen time for viewers to understand their identity. The smaller, the scarier, American directors say. But this rule only applies when the director is able to create a skilful suspense, which in "The Fan" is not almost until the final. On the other hand, there are American thrillers, where the personality of the maniac is analyzed in detail, which does not prevent evil from remaining mysterious. “Traveler”, “Silence of the Lambs”, “Seven” is not a complete example of convincing thrillers, where both the main characters and villains are psychologically reliably depicted. And “The Fan”, despite this title, focuses more on the character of Bacall, which is paid criminally much attention, like a biopic.
Perhaps, of course, the director shot the drama, but he clearly did not succeed in genre symbiosis, since the positive characters of Bacall and Garner obscure the whole plot, so that the fan is truly an unwanted guest in the melodramatic story about the newly flared feelings between the former spouses. And only in the finale, Bean got the opportunity for his own benefit, belated, regrettable. After all, only in the finale, this uneven film becomes a thriller and acquires a confident sound.
Fans of the above actors, of course, should get acquainted with this quite good work, but connoisseurs of thrillers about obsessive fans will get much more pleasure from the “Eyes of Laura Mars” and “Hours of Visitation”.
7 out of 10
To what extremes are fans ready to go to at least a step closer to the object of their adoration? They fill them with letters, cut out any mention of their idols from the newspapers, they worship everything connected with them. They consider them gods to be worshipped, they arrange altars in their honor and pray in photos. They stalk, they ruin lives. Their worship defies logic. Fans of Muslim Magomayev kissed his car, because of which it acquired the color of lipstick. A fan of John Lennon killed his idol. Two extremes of adoration. To love and desire happiness and long years. To love and to dream of killing. Love turns into an obsession, the desire to be noticed turns into a mania of persecution, the desire to possess becomes a desire to kill – no matter who or who gets in the way – or your idol.
It is about such a fan, who turned from a simple fan into an obsessive fanatic, is told in this film. The young man did not fall in love with a real woman - he fell in love with an image he himself invented. He does not care that the actress, to whom he wrote very personal letters, revealed his soul, is fit for his mother. He dreamed of her, he only dreamed of her. He ruined his life, everything for her. He followed her, but unlike many other fans, he didn’t wait outside or ask for autographs. He wanted more. He wanted to be with her, he fantasized that she cared about him. He hated everyone around her and, in his opinion, only interfered with their shared happiness. His madness grew. Madness and passion. Madness leading to blood and death. All will die, but it will be the two of us. We will be happy, because she is crazy about me, she, the most beautiful of the angels who set foot on this earth, deserves only the best and that is the best I am.
The plot is scary and very vital. The film could be the personification of the madness of a fanatic who does not understand life without his idol. The key word is could. What did Edward Bianchi want to do – drama, thriller or musical? He didn't seem to know that himself. What could have been a masterpiece turned into something completely different. Funny musical episodes, mixed with dramatic moments, create the impression of porridge. Ineptly pumped suspense instead of tension causes only bewilderment. Musical overlay is often completely out of harmony with what is happening on the screen. Maybe you should focus on one thing? But the director, apparently, decided that he could do everything and it is not surprising that his debut was waiting for a deafening failure. First pancake? Or was he just not doing what his talent was? Rather, the latter, because later very well proved himself in the series - but it was later, and while the impression that he made every effort to spoil his creation, but there was something that even his efforts of the saboteur was not enough - the play of actors.
Amazing, despite the years, by Lauren Beckall. One of Hollywood's sex simols of old, female vamps, one look at her was able to punch a hole in men's hearts. It was in the past. And here she plays herself, although she calls her a different name - let the years put an imprint on her, don't want to celebrate another birthday, but isn't she gorgeous, once she appears - and crowds of fans are waiting for her, begging for an autograph, dreaming of taking away at least some of her belongings. She doesn’t rest on the laurels of her former popularity, she doesn’t lock herself in her house, sending all the offers of roles away, like Greta Garbo – she strives for new heights. A musical on stage? Let there be a musical and it does not matter that it has never been necessary to participate in anything like this before - she will cope, and her fans will forgive her any shortcomings, the main thing is to see her idol on stage, and more is not necessary.
Or should I? He needs to. He's not one of this pathetic fan club - he's unique. He loves her not for her talent, but for what she is. Obsession is ready to turn the life of a star into a nightmare - and it turns. Young Michael Bien, who is still budding, not knowing how uneven his future career will be, played his first madman. After that there will be Bo Landry, Boyd, Oscar Crocker - but there will be after. Here he doesn’t look like a psychopath, he doesn’t stand out from the crowd, he behaves quite appropriately, only those who know him well notice that something is happening to him. But when he is alone with himself, when he begins to indulge in his fantasies, when his obsession begins to prevail over his reason, he will stop at nothing. Madness in the eyes, madness in actions, madness in words - but the madness of the one who achieves what he wants, he can deceive everyone, he inspires hatred - and at the same time pity. Having brought himself to the edge, he falls and does not want to take a helping hand ready to reach out.
Perfectly complementing each other - the most experienced Becall and young Bien - for the sake of their correspondence duet, the film is worth watching. Plus the plot itself, such a fantastic - and at the same time so real - "Do not create an idol for yourself," says one of the commandments. In general, the merits of the film is enough, it is a pity that they are submitted by the debutante, who took up not his own business.
7 out of 10
Well, another advantage, the truth is no longer relevant to the assessment — yes, you guessed it — author's translation, and even two.
The film is little known, but the picture is quite worthy of attention. Perhaps the most attractive in the production is a symbiosis of an excellent cast and a topic close to any person, so that the situation caused a response and it was played reliably. The plot touches on the close relationship between the public persona and fans. Any person of art tries to become a star, to gain attention to himself, in order to amuse self-love or convey creativity to a huge audience, causing her positive assessment and admiration. Rays of glory are sometimes truly deserved if they give ordinary mortals the pleasure of enjoying an impeccably played role or a sung inspiring song that adorns our lives, allowing us to sincerely love the star, as well as the sun in the sky - it is somewhere out there, far in its own orbit, shining, illuminating the path, reminding us of ourselves when we periodically look at it, lifting our heads up, admiring the light. We just need creativity from her, allowing, for example, to hum under the nose of your favorite motifs, or some sample that inspires enthusiasm to work on yourself, and the idol is pleased with the attention. But the line that turns a fan into a fanatic is very thin if the border of adequacy is violated, capable of perverting a mutually pleasant for all connection, which becomes a conductor of star fear and hatred of a fan whose personal feelings are not needed by the object of adoration. It is on this advantageous field that the film plays, creating a psychological thriller whose characters and their life vicissitudes will be interesting to creative people who already have their audience, as well as admirers of their talent, making everyone feel the emotions, where, in their own way, pity all the characters.
History is in no hurry to be a thriller. It takes a lot from everyday drama, introducing us to the two main parties to the conflict. Successfully invited Lauren Bacall portrays almost herself, playing a faded outwardly, but still charming star, whose photos on the walls captured the once young beautiful actress and the carefree days of fame that have passed. Now it's over, and the birthday party can only be depressing. The actress very subtly feels her character, without any falsehood, revealing her character to us through relationships with the surrounding characters - a caring business assistant, whose existence has become an invisible addition to the idle life of a star, and a former husband, who remains a beloved friend, because he is subject to the tendency of most successful aging men, hoping to nourish young blood next to a passion fit in a daughter. No less commendable coped with the role of a fan Michael Bien. Then he was only twenty-five, behind the shoulders there were television projects and youth comedies, but the image of an obsessed madman was famous, which is pleasantly surprising if you recall future positive characters that have become the calling cards of the actor. His fan is truly pathetic, like any psychopath, and at the same time he evokes compassion for unrequited falling in love with the created deified idol from black and white film and glamorous photos. He torments himself with this fantasy, making man-made misfortune a catalyst for terrible consequences, turning all bright admiration into evil hatred. However, the desire is partly understandable, because the plot clearly shows his surrounding world with joyless work and uninteresting peers, inferior to a woman who is noticeably older, but interesting as a person. The character deftly balances between tragedy and repulsive hostility, impatiently making you expect a fleeting meeting of the two characters in a tense climax.
Unfortunately, the film is not perfect. Debuting director Edward Bianchi, who after the failure will soon go into the framework of television, staying there until now, could not withstand the harmonious relationship of the psychological thriller and the demonstration of blood on the screen, reducing some scenes to a typical horror film about a maniac pursuing the victim with a sticky blade under a tense musical motif, as if we are dealing with the primitive slasher. Even Lauren Bacall herself pointed this out in interviews, wanting less violence instead of more attention to the personal drama of the characters. A sad case from reality related to the murder of John Lennon by his mad admirer. All this caused rejection of the film that followed the tragedy, bringing significant financial losses and severe criticism.
However, the merits are enough to attract an interesting plot, well coped with the main acting couple and recognizable faces in episodic roles, the musical accompaniment of the Italian maestro Pino Donagio, keeping the audience’s attention for an hour and a half in front of the screen.
In the beginning of the 80s, in the new tenth, on the screens decides to go star Hollywood 40s and 50s - Lauren Bacall, which since 60s was filmed from time to time. And for the transition to the new decade, the actress chose what, starting again with the 60s years, entered the trend - horror-thriller with 'stars of the screen of past years in age' .
But this time the actress was obviously unlucky. Lauren chose the debut film director Edward Bianchi "Admirer" (1981), which failed miserably at the box office, was scolded by critics, was nominated for "Golden Raspberry" and turned Bacall away from the movie for 7 years. Aren't there a lot of bad deeds from one movie? But everything in order. The plot of this opus looks like this:
Already an elderly movie star and theater actress Sally Ross (Lauren Bacall) rehearses the role in her first musical on Broadway and receives a bunch of letters from her devoted (to put it mildly) fan (Michael Bean), who almost worships her as a deity. But the efforts of the secretary of the star (Moreen Stapleton) letters do not reach the addressee. And then the fan takes great action!
Well, for the then and today's show business, the situation shown in the film is quite commonplace, so the plot of this film seems quite acceptable. The trouble is that the form of implementation of the display of this situation leaves much to be desired.
To begin with, it is difficult to understand what exactly the film is - detective, horror, just thriller or even ... musical! Of course, there is a detective component here, but it is too similar to mediocre copying of the Noirs of the 40s.
Horror in the movies is not guessed, because even the murders or stab wounds shown in the film are not frightening. Moreover, at times the film looks like a comedy, not a thriller.
Elements of the musical in this picture are presented most vividly - we watch the rehearsal of the numbers for the future musical , which are then shown on stage towards the end of the film. But integrated into the plot musical numbers quite unsuccessfully. In short, if you try to determine what specific genre belongs to what we show - it is unlikely to come to a consensus.
Well, one of the main dubious moves of the film is the fall in love (if you can call it that) of the hero Michael Bean in the heroine Lauren Bacall, especially when you consider that we are talking about an attractive guy of 25 years and a woman who has already experienced her best years.
At first glance, this seems absurd, but let’s remember the character character Bean – he is obsessed with it since watching the early films “stars”, that is, we can assume that he considers the actress still young and beautiful. Yes, and more than transparent hint on homosexuality of this character should also be taken into account.
Now let me say a few words about the actors. Lauren Bacall (replaced Elizabeth Taylor in the title role) plays in the film, in fact, herself. As you know, she was a Hollywood star of the 40-50s, and at a later stage of her career she achieved success as a theater actress, also playing success in two Broadway musicals. So, nothing fundamentally new role actress did not give.
So what do we see in the end? Bacall shows an aging but still famous actress with her personal problems, aspirations, her own inner world - in general, nothing extraordinary - but not so bad. Of course, it can be noted that it does not fit well into the genre of 'horror' - but the script, as already mentioned, is no more similar to 'horror' than Marilyn Monroe to Yulia Savichev.
Regarding musical numbers - of course, Bacall has never been an outstanding singer, but this can already be attributed to Broadway conventions, since inviting Hollywood stars to stage musicals, on Broadway, actors are often allowed to have, to put it mildly, mediocre vocal data - in the end, the audience most often go to the 'name', and not to 'voice'.
James Garner as the ex-husband of the heroine Bacall looks predictable - alas, but his role here is nothing more than the usual appearance of another aging but popular actor in the past. Moreen Stapleton is more or less entertaining in the role of the "secretary-hen" the main character.
Performer of the role of a maniac, obsessed with "star" - Michael Bean... It's hard to say anything about him. The novice actor very confidently performs a difficult role, but when you look at him, for some reason, Anthony Perkins constantly pops up in memory. Overall, good performance, but the career of this actor will not come to a star start.
Well, summing up, I state that it did not work out to combine the genres of the musical and horror from the director Edward Bianchi - instead, we see something like a detective thriller , often conveying greetings to the films 40s and 50s, using appropriate techniques and clichés from them. Recommended for viewing this spectacle is that avid fans Lauren Bacall and James Garner. Thank you very much.
Aging, but still very popular movie star Sally Ross is the envy of many actresses her age: she is in demand, she has a new role in the musical and many fans. The only problem is that one of her most active fans, a young record store employee, Douglas Brin, is a bit inadequate, or, more simply, insane. Naively believing that the young man is not dangerous, Sally calmly ignores his messages, but the day will come when the neglect of the elderly diva pushes the fan to take active action.
The movie star of the mid-twentieth century Lauren Bacall in the 60s took a pause lasting more than 10 years, and this film is one of the first in which she took part after a long break. But the actress could clearly find a better project than the directorial debut of the unknown Edward Bianchi, who failed at the box office, collecting a little more than $ 3 million and negative reviews of critics. The main problem of the picture is not even in a frankly implausible plot (to believe that the 25-year-old handsome goes crazy for a well-preserved, but obviously not the first freshness of the 57-year-old aunt - Galkin is not considered - simply impossible), but that the director can not understand what he is shooting, a thriller or a musical, since the staging of dance numbers of attention is paid much more than the injection of suspense and spectacular plot moves. As a result, the viewer is forced to observe not the atmosphere of condensing danger, but the ridiculous dance numbers that look in the context of the plot, accompanied by truly nightmarish songs (one of which “Hearts, Not Diamonds” was rightly nominated for “Golden Raspberry”, although it is strange that critics limited themselves only to a song nomination), well, Lauren Bacall’s vocal parts are just a solid facepalm. The casting itself is more than strange, almost all the actors are not in their places and do not combine with each other, but the director-debutant does not notice this at all, as well as does not notice the fact that Bacall does not feel the genre features of horror. If anything makes a good impression, it is only the music of the cult composer Pino Donagio, who decorated with his explosive symphonies more than one thriller by Brian DePalma.
4 out of 10
Emotionally and mentally unbalanced seller of vinyl records Douglas Brin is a fan of the singer of musicals Sally Ross, but he does not succeed in reaching the idol - it is simply impossible to approach her, and all letters sent to her do not go beyond the secretary, who considers them undeserving of the attention of a great star. Then Brin decides to act on his own and punch the road to Sally through a pile of corpses.
"Fan" is a rather boring and unseen movie, but not without its merits. The three whales holding the local tape are the music of Pino Donagio, the cinematography of Dick Bush and the acting of Michael Bean, who, like Michael Ironside in Visiting Hours, vividly draws a rather weak film from general oblivion.
However, the painting by Edward Bianchi has an advantage over the Clock in the form of the relevance of the theme of the star, pursued by a fanatic fan. For from time immemorial, mankind faithfully and stubbornly violated the commandment "Do not create an idol for yourself." “Visiting Hours” was a rather ordinary hospital slasher (however, in some places quite bright, so I rated it a point higher than this picture), built on the disagreement of the views of the maniac and his victim – the TV presenter.
Having mentioned the excellent acting of newbie Bean, I would like to say that the others did not play very well. People’s American star Lauren Bacall tries, but looks somehow out of place, besides the profession of her heroine obliges the appearance of several musical and choreographic numbers, which here look at least wild, although in fact should have corresponded. I don’t remember the other actors at all.
The music of Pino Donagio is very sonorous and atmospheric, the soundtrack turned out to be decent, that's just how for me - some melodies did not fit what is happening on the screen, but mostly the music succeeded, which can not be said about special effects. There are very few of them, mostly one blood substitute. From the thriller, no one expects torn eyes and severed hands, but still the scenes of violence should be made a little more vivid. Or I just went crazy, and now I don't have enough violence.
All in all, it’s a rather sluggish and boring movie to watch either because of Bean or because of Dick Bush’s beautiful camera twists. And so - this is a rather stereotypical, albeit working on an always relevant topic thriller, which would not hurt to raise the bar of action and cruelty.