{"id":22656,"date":"2020-01-05T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/?p=22656"},"modified":"2020-12-20T18:02:06","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T02:02:06","slug":"review-fan1981-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moviemansguide.com\/main\/2020\/01\/review-fan1981-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fan (1981) Blu-ray Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Fan<\/em><\/strong> is a film that showcases the talents of both Lauren Bacall and a young Michael Biehn turning in a sometimes creepy performance as a celebrity stalker.<\/p>\n

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The Fan<\/span>
\n(1981)<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Genre(s): <\/strong>Suspense Thriller, Drama<\/span>
\nShout Factory | R \u2013 95 min. \u2013 $29.99 | November 19, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Date Published:<\/strong> 01\/05\/2020 | Author:<\/strong> The Movieman<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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MOVIE INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Directed by: <\/strong>Edward Bianchi
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Bob Randall (novel); Priscilla Chapman and John Hartwell (screenplay)
\nCast: <\/strong>Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Michael Biehn, Maureen Stapleton, Hector Elizondo<\/span><\/p>\n
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DISC INFO:
\n<\/u><\/strong>Features: <\/strong>Commentary, Interviews, Gallery, TV Spots, Theatrical Trailer
\nSlip Cover: <\/strong>No
\nDigital Copy: <\/strong>No
\nFormats Included: <\/strong>Blu-ray
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>1<\/span><\/p>\n
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Audio: <\/strong>English (DTS-HD MA 1.0)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen 1.85
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH
\nDisc Size: <\/strong>43.81 GB
\nTotal Bitrate: <\/strong>37.86 Mbps
\nCodecs: <\/strong>MPEG-4 AVC
\nRegion(s): <\/strong>A<\/span><\/p>\n
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Shout Factory provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
\nThe opinions I share are my own.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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PLOT SYNOPSIS<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Sally Ross (LAUREN BACALL) is a renowned Broadway star, glamorous celebrity, and the object for countless admirers. But among all the loving little people lurks a young man, Douglas (MICHAEL BIEHN), whose devotion teeters on the edge of madness. His impassioned letters to her are initially a source of pleasure, but as he attempts to realize his ultimate fantasy \u2013 and is met with rejection \u2013 the stakes are raised to terrifying heights\u2026 which might bring on the final curtain for Sally.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 3.5\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Audio Commentary<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 Cult Film Director David DeCoteau and Film Historian David Del Valle, Moderated by Scream Factory\u2019s Jeff Nelson. This is a lively enough academic-esque commentary track delving into their memories of the movie before diving into the background of the production.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Number One Fan (25:52)<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 Actor Michael Biehn<\/li>\n
  • Fan Service (38:15)<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 Director Edward Bianchi<\/li>\n
  • Fanning the Flames (18:13)<\/u><\/strong> \u2014 Editor Alan Heim<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Always like it when an actor, with some star status, sits down for one of their earlier roles, so Biehn\u2019s interview was easily my favorite of the three, going down memory lane on working on the project including being ecstatic when he got the role. Bianchi and Heim\u2019s interviews follow the usual pattern of talking about their background before discussing the production.<\/p>\n

    Also included is the Theatrical Trailer (2:04)<\/u><\/strong>, 3 TV Spots (1:33)<\/u><\/strong> and a Still Gallery (4:19)<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    VIDEO \u2013 4.25\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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    Shout Factory releases The Fan<\/em><\/strong> onto Blu-ray where it\u2019s presented in its original 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio and a 1080p high-definition transfer, probably given to Shout by Paramount. That said, this was a perfectly fine looking picture, detail was mostly sharp and colors appear to be time period appropriate, meaning you\u2019re going to get anything overly bright. Film noise was retained and outside of some specs, this was a clean looking transfer, though not perfect.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    AUDIO \u2013 3.75\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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    The movie includes a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track. Dialogue does come through with nice clarity and free of any hisses, pops or other aural inconsistencies. The depth wasn\u2019t anything noteworthy but as movies going on nearly 40 years is concerned, not at all too bad, although there was some ambient noises present.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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    OVERALL \u2013 3.0\/5<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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    The Fan<\/em><\/strong> is a film that showcases the talents of both Lauren Bacall and a young Michael Biehn turning in a sometimes creepy performance as a celebrity stalker. However, it\u2019s a shame the story wasn\u2019t a bit stronger and the usually wonderful James Garner was underutilized. This Blu-ray release from Shout Factory has good video and audio transfers alongside a fine selection of bonus features, highlighted by a new interview with Biehn.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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