Big Fan – Review

For those who don’t understand the love we football fans have, it’s quite hard to crash course you in on it. We dress up, cheer, and sometimes even call into work, due to the depression we face when our team loses a playoff game. Many fans have numerous stories of the glory days and of the hardships, I know I do. But even in my own die-hard heart, I can recognize some of the more crazed elements in the fans, and in Big Fan, Robert Siegel’s directorial debut, we get a story of one such crazed fan.

With Siegel’s script for The Wrestler, and now for Big Fan its safe to say, Siegel has a great understanding of the sports world, as he has showcased that in two really good films. Big Fan works best when Siegel is exploring the keen and sad world of an obsessed Giants fan with the character of Paul (Patton Oswald). The look is satirical, yet darkly spot-on. Paul is a sad creature, who’s only chance at life is through this Sports Radio show, where he is actively talkative on the call-ins. Interestingly though, his call-ins are highly rehearsed and they still sounds generic in his thoughts about the team and their games. He’s a washed up loser, who might never had the chance to win. The bleeding of Giants pride is all he has, and when he has a mixed up with his hero, star defensive player Quantrell Bishop (Jonathan Hamm), he must chose from hurting his team or taking the blame for an incident that could sideline Bishop and hurt the Giants post-season hopes.

As beautiful of an idea this film displays, it also is a disturbing look at the fanatical fans, who will and can do harm to each other and themselves all for the sake of their team. Paul is a sad man, plain and simple, and it isn’t because of his die-hard love for the Giants, but because this is all he lives for. Big Fan has a lot in common with two of Martin Scorsese’s films, namely King of Comedy and at times, Taxi Driver. Like Rupert Pupkin, Paul is in his own world, unable to comprehend reality. Delusional? Maybe. Paul is perfect happy in his little existence of a parking lot gate keeper, and living at home at 36 with his mom. All of this sounds like Pupkin in King of Comedy huh? It’s not like Big Fan tries to add much to the state of obsessive characters and their sad existence, as it is more of an interesting look at the crazed football fans. We thought those European soccer fans were nuts, well American football fans are getting there.

The ending is a bit of brilliance, making Big Fan into a different film that we might have originally thought. Robert Siegel has something interesting to say about the sports world, and while Big Fan stumbles in its approach at times to Paul’s character and his family, it’s really worth a look.

Netflix is currently having this as a Watch Instantly film, but the DVD has some nice interviews with Siegel that are worth a look as well.

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