The Fan

It's hard to imagine what De Niro saw in this crass 'study' of a delusional stalker, which merely requires him to reprise, in cruder form, two of his best-known roles, Rupert Pupkin and Travis Bickle. Alienated from his job as a hunting-knife salesman, and separated from a wife who resents any time he spends with their young son, Gil Renard (De Niro) hones his obsession with the San Francisco Giants baseball team and their classy new signing Bobby Rayburn (Snipes). When Rayburn hits a slump, Renard focuses his resentment on usurper Juan Primo (del Toro), whose winning streak he brings to a sudden, brutal end. Facile pop psychology, hysterical performances, frenetic editing and a deafening, aggressive soundtrack.