“The Fanatic” was released in 2019. (same year Joker came out) It was critically panned by many critics (most notably, Chris Stuckmann) and movie goers alike. To put salt in the wound it only made $3,153 at the box office. A low point considered to be John’s lowest grossing film worse than “Battlefield Earth.” OUCH! John ultimately won a Razzie Award for “Worst Actor” alongside his other film “Trading Paint.”
When I first heard about The Fanatic, YouTube film critic, Chris Stuckmann uploaded his review of the film. I was curious to see it. I tell ya what, it definitely has a list of problems.
Today’s review contains a truckload of SPOILERS. If you want to watch this movie, don’t read this full spoiler article. If you wish to proceed, read at your own risk.
Positive & Negative Elements
Positive: Not a single good trait isn’t listed. The Fanatic lacks a dignified premise that the audience can follow.
Negative: John Travolta did a god-awful job for his Razzie winning performance as Moose. It’s much worse than his role as Terl from Battlefield Earth.
Not A Fun Fact: John claims Moose is the best character he’s ever played. I’m not making this up, he wanted to campaign for his performance for an Oscar nomination. John doesn’t realize he’s in his own world accepting bad scripts as if they belong at any dollar store.
Fred Durst did a terrible job as both a writer and director. He failed to double check the screenplay for additional rewrites.
This movie is trying too hard to take itself seriously. It’s M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” all over again.
Poor Cinematography heavily relying on Shaky Cam. Was the cameraman on Red Bull while listening to Cher’s “Believe?” Ugh! I hate shaky cameras!
I swear to god I am not making this up. Moose’s first line is, Can’t talk, I gotta poo.” What I just heard indicates that this movie is gonna suck. Remember Heath Ledger’s Joker’s first line from “The Dark Knight?” I’ll refresh your memory, he said, “No no no no I kill the bus driver.” His first line meant he’s a mass murdering psychopath who’ll do anything to betray his minions to get Batman’s attention. Moose’s introduction however, is described in only one word, “moronic.”
Moose works as a street performer in Hollywood Boulevard dressed as a British cop. His catchphrase is “poppycock.” It is so irritating to hear John using an over-the-top British accent. Johnny Depp can emulate a British accent than him.
When Moose enters Hunter’s house. He fiddles around with a pair of antlers and hits a couple of keys on a piano. Who the heck does that when somebody sneaks inside a person’s home?
Moose’s friend Leah, narrates the film. Unlike Red from “The Shawshank Redemption,” she never factors in so much. Red played an important role as a narrator and friend of Andy Dufresne as their chemistry served as one of the primary highlights of The Shawshank Redemption. The Fanatic on the other hand is a miscalculation when it comes to lacking Moose & Leah’s chemistry as good friends.
Moose’s hairstyle resembling a bowl cut (like Moe from The Three Stooges) and mullet looked absolutely ugly. You can tell John is wearing a hairpiece. I can’t take his look seriously.
Moose never told Hunter how he located his home. If you’re gonna confront somebody, you have to tell them how you got there in the first place.
Limp Bizkit is played in Hunter’s car. Fred Durst is blatantly showing his ego. We get it Fred, you think you’re the greatest musician alive. Would you mind not inflating your ego for once!?
After Hunter lets Moose go, The LAPD arrest the former. How come Moose took photos on his phone and uploaded them to his social media accounts? What about Moose’s fingerprints when he accidentally killed Hunter’s maid? Everybody ignores the fact Moose shared photos and videos at Hunter’s home? The LAPD are so stupid when they don’t investigate before they make the decision to find out who the culprit truly is.
The Final Verdict: F, FOR FAKER!
The Fanatic is a laughably illogical Razzie winning epic failure tarnishing John Travolta & Fred Durst’s careers that’ll forever haunt them for the rest of their professional lives. Not a single positive thing is on the list, which is a terrible thing. All the negative things I’ve listed, indicates The Fanatic is labeled as one of the worst movies of 2019 next to stinkers like “Dark Phoenix,” “The Rise Of Skywalker” “Terminator: Dark Fate” & “Cats.” If you really really want to watch an actual movie about a deranged person, I strongly recommend “Taxi Driver,” “The King Of Comedy,” “Black Swan” & Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar winning performance as Joker.
By the way, The Fanatic is described as a mockbuster to Joker similar to “Transmorphers” is this to “Transformers.” Like going to a local dollar store showcasing a pile of cheaply made movies, only costing a dollar.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 