Big Fan Blu-ray Review
Patton Oswalt shows his acting range in “Big Fan.”
2009’s “Big Fan” is a comedy-drama that revolves around Paul- a New York Giants obsessed Staten Island parking lot attendant that lives with his mother. He’s such a passionate fan that he regularly calls into a sports talk show to defend his beloved Giants against the likes of a loudmouth Philadelphia Eagles fan known as Philadelphia Phil. One night, Paul and his buddy Sal spot Giants star linebacker Quantrell Bishop at a gas station. The two follow him to a strip club which, as you might expect, doesn’t go well. Quantrell beats up Paul and he ends up in the hospital. Quantrell also ends up being suspended which causes the Giants to freefall. Feeling guilty and responsible for his beloved Giants’ failure, Paul refuses to speak up about what really happened to protect Quantrell. Paul, meanwhile, is having lingering head pains and is being pressured by his lawyer brother to sue Quantrell. As his life spirals out of control, Paul becomes driven mad by Philadelphia Phil’s taunting which causes Paul to make a decision about what to do next.
Written and directed by Robert Siegel, “Big Fan” may sound a bit like “Celtic Pride,” but the two films couldn’t be more different. This is very much a dark comedy mixed with a psychological drama that explores the dark side of NFL fandom. The movie keeps you guessing as to what path Paul will take right down to the very ending. The story could have easily mocked Paul, but Siegel wisely avoids this. We (the audience) really see that Paul is a deeply flawed human, but understand his way of life and his life choices. It never comes across as judgmental which is what makes it so effective.
On the subject of Paul, Patton Oswalt really cemented himself as a versatile actor in this role. The comedian was known more for comedy films up until this point, but the actor showed real range here. Oswalt would later go on to flex his acting muscles even more in films like “Young Adult” and “I Love My Dad.” Elsewhere in the cast are notable performances by Kevin Corrigan (as Sal) and Michael Rapaport (perfectly cast as Philadelphia Phil).
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p, Grade: B+
Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: B+
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