In Big Fan, Patton Oswalt stars as NY Giants fanatic Paul Aufiero who particularly idolizes the team’s (fictional) star player, Quantrell Bishop. However, Oswalt’s character does not just love Giants football but he eats, sleeps, and breathes it as well. During his off hours from his self-proclaimed “career” as a parking-garage attendant, Paul frequently makes phone calls to a local sports radio station with speeches professing the greatness of his beloved team from his room decorated with NY Giants memorabilia. When the Giants are playing at home, Paul travels with his friend Sal (Kevin Corrigan) to Giants Stadium only to sit in the parking lot watching the game from a TV hooked up to Paul’s car generator (although, they claim that they get to watch from the field.) In fact, much of the film focuses on Paul’s routine that never really changes.
One evening, Paul and Sal spot Quantrell Bishop at a gas station and make the decision to follow Bishop in order to express their admiration for him. Finally they arrive at a Manhattan strip club where Paul and Sal approach Bishop telling him that they followed him all the way from Staten Island so they could say hello. Quantrell becomes enraged upon learning that he was followed even though the two men meant no harm. Bishop then attacks Paul in rage thinking that he is a stalker. As Paul awakes three days later in a hospital he learns that his favorite player has been suspended, arrested and could face up to five years in prison. From this point on, Paul struggles with the fact that Bishop’s punishment could cost the Giants from continuing to win. Paul’s family members along with the police are all determined to bring Quantrell Bishop to justice. In fact, Paul’s brother Jeff (who is an attorney) is focused on getting compensation for Paul. However, Paul wants none of that. The people around him (along with the detective investigating Paul’s case) all have a general opinion about Paul in which he lives in his own world where football (and not just the NY Giants) is number one. Paul lives for football whether it is watching the games or protesting his love for his team to others on the radio.
However, this movie serves as more than just a picture of a football fanatic’s life. It takes focus away from star athletes and puts an emphasis on the people in the crowd and their love for the sport. Constantly throughout the movie Paul’s mother tells him that there are essential things to life such as a family and a good career but Paul argues that he does not need these things in his life. It is evident that Paul is happy watching and talking about football whether it is at home or in the parking lot of Giants Stadium. In a way, Paul is still a kid at heart: Even after being attacked by Quantrell Bishop, Paul refuses to give up information that could lead Bishop to justice. Bishop is Paul’s Superman who can do nothing wrong as Paul is easily able to forget about the incident.
Big Fan is a film that I would recommend to specific audiences: Sports fanatics, fans of indie films, and fanatics of just about anything. To begin with the sports fanatics, this film is centered around a man who has a love for the sport of football (even though this film has a different take than most sports films.) People deemed fanatics of anything would enjoy this film because Oswalt’s character is an everyman who is frequently looked down upon for his love for the NY Giants much like fanatics are often looked down upon for their hobbies.
As for fans of independent films, this film was an indie film itself having a limited release and in my opinion was a film that was extremely overlooked in 2009. The film is also the directorial debut from writer Robert D. Siegel who also wrote 2008’s The Wrestler. This movie is different from the average sports film and is a relief because Oswalt’s character is able to overcome the negativity that surrounds him throughout the film.
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