the fanatic

If there was ever a film that dove deep into the nebulous trenches of uberfandom, Fred Durst’s third feature film, The Fanatic, certainly achieves its goal. From the outset, the film challenges viewers on what it means to gauge the subject matter, through the perspective of the often overlooked, downtrodden and mentally ill, principally in the city of Los Angeles, or as Leah (Ana Golja) calls it, “the city of bullshitters” where “everything breaks down eventually”. It’s Leah’s voice narration that introduces the role of Moose (John Travolta), an unyielding, socially-awkward street performer who lives alone, rides a moped, and is the latest target for bullying by pickpocketing street performer Todd (Jacob Grodnik). For his hobby of collecting autographs and rare memorabilia, Moose routinely relies on favors from Leah, a paparazzi photographer who does her best to help keep Moose on the straight and narrow whilst helping nuture his fandom, […]

More