Robert D. Siegel's Big Fan (2009) reminds me of Darren Aronofsky's 2000 adaptation of Hubert Selby's Requiem for a Dream (1978) and the Siegel scripted, Aronofsky directed The Wrestler (2008), though it's not quite as bleak. Paul (Patton Oswalt), the main character, is a defiant slug of a man whose organizing principle in life consists of fanatically following the New York Giants. Though it appears he's not playing with a full deck, this is his existential choice. Why does he choose this life? We do not know, or at least I couldn't tell; he does make clear his aversion to a more "normal" route such as his siblings have taken; nearing forty, he still lives with his mother (Marcia Jean Kurtz). He has one friend, another Giants fanatic (Kevin Corrigan), and one sports radio call-in nemesis, Philadelphia Phil (Michael Rapaport). Set this in motion with a disastrous encounter or two, and there's your setup.
Overall, the acting is superb and the story is gritty, sprinkled with dark humor.
Verdict: for indie film watchers, Big Fan is a good match. For blockbuster fans, it might be too much -- or rather, too little.
Today's Rune: Partnership.
4 comments:
I heard an interview about this on NPR that was interesting. I'll have to give it a look. It's on Netflix watch instantly at the moment.
didn't De Niro do something like this?
Next on my netflix list.
I have to say, I can't imagine ANYTHING as bleak as Requiem for a Dream. This sounds interesting, though (& I don't mind Patton Oswalt.)
Post a Comment