Independent Movie Review: Big Fan
Director: Robert D. Siegel
Starring: Patton Oswalt
Running Time: 90 Minutes
How I Found It: Netflix Live Streaming
Released: August 2009
Josh’s Rating: 5/10
We all know the die-hard sports fan that would rather miss the birth of their first born child than miss their favorite team’s season opener. Big Fan is a movie that focuses on the life of Paul Aufiero, a 36-year-old NY Giants fan living in Staten Island in his mother’s house. He spends his nights as a parking garage attendant writing scripts for his daily 1am phone-ins to a sports talk radio show, where he considers himself a celebrity.
One night he follows the Giant’s quarterback, Quantrell Bishop, with his best friend Sal (Kevin Corrigan) to a strip club, where he is viciously beaten by the football player. He is then faced with the dilemma of pressing charges and putting the star behind bars for years, or keeping his mouth shut and doing what is best for the team. Throughout the movie, symptoms and consequences from the beating drive Paul deeper and deeper into depression and family intervention, as he continues to support the team and player he loves instead of facing the reality of what occurred.
How far would you go if your loyalty was tested? Paul is a child in a man’s body, who has refused to grow up and get a life of his own. He is a man with undeniable passion, but no purpose. He has built his entire identity and life around a sports team. When money and justice are offered, he chooses what’s best for the Giants and not his own well-being, alienating his family and destroying his own life.
While I love the premise for this film, the movie comes up short, and it’s hard to put my finger on why. The movie tries to be artistic, with frequent dream sequences of a silhouette of Quantrell Bishop dripping sweat and breathing heavy, to symbolize the burden that Paul bears. This movie was so close to being great that it’s disappointing that they fell short. While the movie interjected a little humor throughout, I feel it might have been better as a comedy than a serious drama. There are plenty of spots where it drags and I found myself bored. The acting was excellent, and that’s what really gets you through the movie.
If you are a sports fan and an independent movie lover, this is for you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend it.
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