A rabid film fan stalks his favorite action hero and destroys the star’s life.
John Travolta’s multi-dimensional persona is passionately evident in his latest film, “The Fanatic.” In his role as “Moose,” he gives his fans a welcome diversion from any of his previous roles and in stark contrast to his career as an actor, he gives us a day in the life of an extreme fanatic who feels he has been betrayed by the movie star who has become his greatest object of affection.
Writer and director Fred Durst begins by giving us a level playing field which shows us each side of the spectrum when it comes to being a public figure with the expectation of privacy and being a private citizen with the expectation of accountability. He also gives impactful screen time to a host of supporting actors, Leah (Ana Golja), Hunter Dunbar (Devon Sawa), Todd (Jacob Grodnik) and Dick (Kenneth Farmer) that use their strengths and weaknesses to motivate Moose to do the right thing while yet enabling him to become passionately unwired.
As the film begins, Moose lives a mostly non-impactful life with various challenges as he thrives day-to-day with the hope that he would one day meet film star Hunter Dunbar who he has followed throughout his entire career. When his buddy gives him an opportunity to get into a local event where the star is expected to be present, he blows it after having a tantrum when he realizes the artist isn’t there. His life goes back to the norm until he gets the priceless opportunity to get in line to get an autograph from the infamous Hunter Dunbar at another event. After he barters for a piece of memorabilia that would be certain to please the star himself, he prepares himself physically and emotionally for the chance to meet his idol. When Moose is at the cusp of getting the autograph, Hunter has to step away to handle personal business and invariably Moose never gets the autograph and he slowly begins to fall apart. His friend Leah, who is a photographer for the famous, comes to the rescue and reluctantly gives Moose access to Hunter’s home address with a cautionary warning to stay out of trouble. In a deeply troubling twist of fate, both Moose and Hunter Dunbar become victims of their own passiveness while setting the stage for a thrilling and adventurous eighty-nine minutes of heart-racing activities. In the end, each gets into the other’s psyche and tears away at the foundation of moral consciousness.
John Travolta is outstanding in his role as Moose who does the unconscionable in order to satisfy his overbearing obsession with Hunter Dunbar. Likewise, Devon Sawa is outstanding in his role as a haughty superstar who seems to have little love or patience for a fan who thinks the world of him. Director Fred Durst does an excellent job of exposing the hazards of being a public figure who has to maintain a public and private persona, and at times prioritize what is most important. He also exposes the dark side of human nature that pushes both sides to cross lines when emotion takes over logic. Travolta, in a daunting performance, forces us to look at the impact of bullying and the complexity of spectrum behaviors while simple admiration plays irreversible roles at the center stage of our minds.
“The Fanatic” opens at the AMC Mesquite 30 and the Studio Movie Grill Colleyville Friday, August 30th
