Fanatical Fan Forces Fate

Rating: 4/10 (8 January 2012)

Lots of this movie was good. DeNiro effectively portrays a sick man who swears violently in the presence of his young son. Patti D'Arbanville effectively plays the victimized, frustrated wife. Wesley Snipes is believable as a major league athlete. It's no secret that Rayburn's character was modeled after Barry Bonds. The Giants had recently acquired the superstar from the Pirates in 1993. There was also a jersey number conflict when Barry Bonds joined the team. He always wore number 24, but the Giants had retired that number; it having belonged to hall of famer Willie Mays. Mays, Barry's godfather, gave Bonds permission to use it, but Barry refused and switched to his dad, Bobby Bonds' old number, 25. The movie was ultimately spoiled by huge suspensions in belief. The mutual dislike between Rayburn an Primo mirrored the real-life mutual dislike between MVP's Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. But the pettiness involved here made the players seem like spoiled children. The part where DeNiro's character managed to coax Rayburn's son into the Hummer and drive off was never explained. Why Rayburn never immediately notified the police and an APB called to find such a conspicuous vehicle is incredulous. The fact that DeNiro was able to kill an umpire and switch places with him during the course of a rain-delayed game, was never explained. It just popped up as if in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. The game resumed and Rayburn attempted an inside the park HR during a torrential downpour that rivaled any monsoon in India. No way the game would have resumed in such conditions. Also, the fact that it was pitch dark despite the use of stadium lights was never explained. Great acting and great premise for a great film. Unfortunately, it was wasted by lapses in reality.