We’re #1!?! The medical history of BIG FAN

Football fanaticism has metastasized into full-blown psychosis. I blame The 12th Man, clubs’ official acknowledgement and sanctioning of their followers’ delusional beliefs that their spectatorial involvement influences the on-field fortunes of their “teammates.” This epidemiological phenomenon is charted brilliantly by Robert Siegel in BIG FAN, his directorial debut, in which a Staten Island shlub (Patton Oswalt) unwittingly mutates from passionate Monday Morning Quarterback into Patient Zero.

I am familiar with the disease, I’ve been infected since I was five. I grew up a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan, a life-threatening condition growing up in New York City. By the time I was thirteen, I had had punches thrown at me by Big Blue goons and a bottle thrown at my head by a Jets fan. (N-U-T-S! NUTS! NUTS! NUTS!) So, I understand the prognosis for Oswalt’s Giants fan when he becomes more involved in the action than he could ever have imagined in masturbatory fantasy lying ‘tween NFL bed sheets while still under his Mom’s roof. When he tracks his gridiron hero to a Times Square nightclub, the BIG FAN provokes his Pro Bowler hero into a tussle redolent of Plaxico’s premature discharge and LT’s coke-fueled benders. The surprise of the movie is how the victim responds to the emotional beat-down, torn as he is between idol worship, playoff ambitions and compensatory wet dreams. Only through the Eagle eye of a Philly fan (Michael Rappaport) do we see how truly dire the condition’s become.

Siegel, who was the Editor-In-Chief of The Onion, obviously has a deft feel for satire, but don’t let that fool you. Cynicism is the flip side of Idealism. Siegel is also immensely compassionate, finding the lovable within his off-putting losers whether it be the BIG FAN or THE WRESTLER. Credit Oswalt, too, for transforming the title character from fringe-hanging, sports-radio contributor to tailgating everyman… general Patton, if you will.

Like going 8-8, BIG FAN‘s outcome will either heal or exacerbate season ticket-holders in accordance with their ability to maintain Hope when all may be lost.

BIG FAN is now playing in select cities. Click here for theaters and showtimes.