Big Fan

If you have enjoyed the depressingly fantastic movie The Wrestler, you will definitely enjoy Robert D. Siegel's directorial debut, Big Fan, starring Patton Oswalt.  He wrote both movies.


Big Fan is the story of a 40 something year old man living at home with his mom still, who works at a parking garage and has nothing going for him...except his passion for the New York Giants, and their star defensive lineman, Quantrell Bishop.  Everything is going well until he sees his hero at a gas station and follows him to a club to say hi.  After a misunderstanding, a drunk Bishop attacks the hapless Paul (Patton Oswalt), leaving him in the hospital.  From there, all Paul wants to do is return his life to normal, yet reporters, his family, and an investigator all want answers.  Meanwhile, his Giants begin to struggle once Bishop gets suspended.


The movie really gets into just how obsessed and disturbed Paul is, and how delusional he becomes with reality.  Oswalt's acting isn't brilliant but its definitely superb.  The movie has you feeling bad for him while at the same time realizing that he has some serious issues, and is viewed as pathetic.  The only bad acting comes from Jonathan Hamm, who plays Quantrell Bishop, but this is his first credited role, so its understandable.


Basically, this movie makes you feel like you felt after watching The Wrestler, but it doesn't make you feel like you've watched the same movie.  The character is different in as many ways as he is similar to Mickey Rourke's.


If you don't mind watching a good movie that didn't get that much buzz, please give this a go.


I rate this 8.5 out of 10.