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Big Fan
Big Fan
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Big Fan

Big Fan

2009
Drama
1h 28m
Paul Aufiero, a hardcore New York Giants football fan, struggles to deal with the consequences when he is beaten up by his favorite player. (imdb)

Directed by:

Robert Siegel

Screenwriter:

Robert Siegel

Starring:

Michael Rapaport, Gino Cafarelli, Matt Servitto, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Kevin Corrigan, Patton Oswalt

Genre:

Drama

Country:

USA

Language:

English
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Big Fan

2009
Drama
1h 28m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 52.22% from 504 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 05 Jan 2010
6
55th
About as funny as a severe, reckless and almost fatal beating. Why the hell is this labeled as a comedy? "Big Fan" is a devastatingly depressing look at a man who's identity is - and is only - being a Giants fan, and what this obsession partly forces him to shut out, partly forces him to accept. It's actually downright sad. Oswalt - likeable even when he makes all the wrong choices and is somewhat of a loser - carries the movie.
Rated 05 Jan 2010
hellsditchhellsditch
Rated 13 Feb 2010
80
62nd
This one was cruising toward the Tier 10 zone when the final twist sent it careening off course with just a few minutes left in the film. And what a shame, because up until that unfortunate tonal shift, Big Fan was kicking my ass with devastating truth after devastating truth. Siegel slays the small stuff in his portrayal of rudderless, sports talk radio-obsessed, tri-state 30-somethings. At some points I couldn't bear to watch, for I know people like this. In fact, I might be one myself. Harsh.
Rated 13 Feb 2010
ytadelYtadel
Rated 01 Feb 2010
5
57th
Like Siegel's other script, The Wrestler, it's basically an elaborate character study of a very sad and depressing man, anchored by a strong performance from Patton Oswalt. Not quite as outstanding as The Wrestler was, but even more depressing and with a big injection of black comedy.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 10 Jan 2010
8
79th
Patton Oswalt's smile at the end of "Big Fan" is an exact replicate of how I felt about this film. Siegel makes you feel like your in the mind of someone with a true obsession with what he loves. At times I wanted to scream at the screen as the situation for the 'fan' gradually get worse. Emotionally captivating.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
ocelotOcelot
Rated 06 Jan 2010
70
73rd
A brilliant, unnerving look at fanaticism of all kinds. "Big Fan" is the kind of movie that gets really hard to watch at some points, but it's so magnificently done that you can't look away. Between this and "The Wrestler," Robert Siegel seems to have great insight into the human condition, and I hope he continues writing great screenplays. Oswalt is superb too; maybe he'll end up like Robin Williams in doing both comedy and drama. "Big Fan" surprises in many ways -- and all of them positive.
Rated 06 Jan 2010
kavuKavu
Rated 05 Jan 2010
78
63rd
A good look at the life of a man who takes fandom a bit too seriously. Not really funny so I don't know why they call it a comedy. Oswalt shines in the lead.
Rated 05 Jan 2010
tripwyreTripwyre
Rated 04 Aug 2011
74
66th
Oswalt gives a terrific performance in the lead, even if the movie goes a bit too far in painting him as a pathetic idiot. Maybe it's because I listen to (and want to work in) sports radio that I find this kind of character more fascinating than some might. I "know" guys like this -- I hear them all the time. I may not be far removed from being a guy like this myself. The climax is a bit disappointing (though fittingly juvenile), but Oswalt and Corrigan's final scene is so good I'll forgive it.
Rated 04 Aug 2011
funkyastroFunkyAstro
Rated 13 Aug 2010
80
80th
Siegel did a great job getting this movie underneath your skin and being hilarious at the same time. Although the comedy within the movie must be viewed like a Monet rather than specific scenes; I didn't realize how funny it was until I reflected back on it. Also, Oswalt's breakthrough performance for sure.
Rated 13 Aug 2010
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 08 Jul 2010
64
43rd
Not as good as I had hoped. Patton Oswalt steps outside his boundaries, but never really takes the character to as dark enough place. Yet half that fault belongs to the story. It builds itself up in a fashion far too similar to "Taxi Driver" to be considered an omage, and then never hits a satisfying peak. Without giving away the end, we're never handed a haunting experience that the character's tormented psyche seems to be holding on to with both hands.
Rated 08 Jul 2010
easydiffeasydiff
Rated 12 May 2010
60
60th
Very, very strange movie... complete dramatic turn for Oswalt, and an unflinching look at superfandom. A cop-out ending rings slightly hollow, though, and the movie is a bit lanquidly-paced in places.
Rated 12 May 2010
lostinlodoslostinlodos
Rated 05 May 2010
12
3rd
How anyone can consider this film anything close to quality is beyond me. Long, boring, and dull. The ending, crap; the lead up, convoluted; the whole, not worth a dime.
Rated 05 May 2010
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 02 May 2010
70
76th
Good Movie
Rated 02 May 2010
filmfreak88filmfreak88
Rated 28 Jan 2010
75
66th
An unnerving look at the dark side of obsession and fanaticism. I have to admit that I have never fully understood fanatics and have always thought of them as silly and sometimes downright unlikable. But this film opened up my eyes to a whole new perspective. It's not perfect but it is certainly insightful.
Rated 28 Jan 2010
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 23 Jan 2010
55
50th
At first I thought this was going to be about how obsessive "losers" aren't any worse than the people who feel the need to talk down at them. Then it got disturbing. And I don't mean that in a normative way, but this movie is just straight up disturbing. It was like a cross between two DeNiro movies: The Fan and Taxi Driver, with the quality being somewhere in between those two.
Rated 23 Jan 2010
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 20 Jan 2010
16
3rd
I'm shocked to find out that this is from the same writer as The Wrestler. Whereas The Ram's tragic loser-ness is palpable and heart-breaking, Paul the Giants fan was just pathetic and uninteresting. It may be because I'm not a fanatic about any sports team, but it's more likely that Aronofsky/Rourke were able to transform an average script into something magical. I love Oswalt as a comedian, but this is far from a comedy, as it's overall tone is as realistic and mundane as you can possibly get.
Rated 20 Jan 2010
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 10 Jan 2010
81
64th
Interesting exploration of a strange but not uncommon personality. The obsession here is sports but it could be other things and there are some really good moments that shed light on how obsession can affect decision making skills. The ending is appropriately imperfect.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
pompousasspompousass
Rated 11 Nov 2009
20
44th
Some amusing bits and pieces (the rough drafts of his nightly sports-talk phone calls and the stumbling delivery of these over the air), but not sharpened to much of an edge or much of a point. Most of the time it's hard to know whether the movie is even meant to be a comedy, despite having the pudgy stand-up comic Oswalt in the lead role, and despite the gleeful ridicule.
Rated 11 Nov 2009
theficionadotheficionado
Rated 16 Oct 2009
37
34th
Watching Big Fan brings to the fore all the cliches and easy characterizations apparent in the Siegel's script of The Wrestler, problems that Aronofsky's evocative yet restrained direction and Rourke's amazing performance rendered harmless. After the broad characterization and lighthearted treatment of pathological behavior on display here, let's just say my appreciation of The Wrestler has increased a bit more.
Rated 16 Oct 2009
tonydaltonydal
Rated 18 Jul 2024
80
75th
The big assault scene came off a bit contrived, and the finale was a trifle...er, whimsical--otherwise I would've scored it (even) higher. But it does manage to convey well that desperate, claustrophobic NYC ambience (where even the wannabes live life hyperaccelerated and on the edge). And yeah, I have no idea how this could be classified as a comedy. But then, I have no idea why anyone would call it "A GENUINE CROWD PLEASER" either (as the DVD box informed me that somebody or other did).
Rated 18 Jul 2024
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 30 Sep 2023
55
42nd
Kevin Corrigan is a criminally underrated actor and he steals the show here from Patton Oswalt. I would have preferred a darker ending - a real gun instead of a paintball gun - but in fairness very few films ever stick the landing.
Rated 30 Sep 2023
nobambanobamba
Rated 01 Jun 2018
75
83rd
Definitely a good look at the obsessive side of sports fans. Evokes great emotions throughout. Unfortunately the ending feels out of character and cheap.
Rated 01 Jun 2018
yoshifanyoshifan
Rated 06 Jun 2016
8
64th
Patton Oswalt is the biggest reason to see this movie. He should be in more films.
Rated 06 Jun 2016
donquixoticdonquixotic
Rated 18 Dec 2015
1
3rd
I kept waiting for the film to start and it never did. Is the story supposed be that someone is a big football fan and that's all he has in his life? That's it? Jesus Christ what a pointless film, I don't understand the appeal here
Rated 18 Dec 2015
kingjohnbbqKingjohnbbq
Rated 18 Jun 2014
83
44th
I appreciate every bit of this that patton obviously had a hand in writing, but what I appreciated more was just how good he was. He scared me in a way at just how good. I sincerely hope he gets more roles like this because he blew it away.
Rated 18 Jun 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 23 Mar 2014
78
58th
78.000
Rated 23 Mar 2014
ella_mayElla May
Rated 06 Dec 2013
75
69th
Compelling!
Rated 06 Dec 2013
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 22 Feb 2013
33
29th
#13#, rw2, story, reviews, actors
Rated 22 Feb 2013
tinysausagetinysausage
Rated 10 Feb 2013
73
52nd
Poignant depiction of a loser fan with some interesting things to say about fandom and being content with your lot.
Rated 10 Feb 2013
danastevensdanastevens
Rated 30 Nov 2012
70
61st
With its unremittingly bleak humor and eagerness to plumb the depths of fanboy abjection, Big Fan seems destined for a future in the cult canon.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 10 Jun 2012
70
61st
Patton is a surprisingly talented actor. I went in to this expecting a lot more laughs, but its not very jokey (does have some dark humor, though). It's a a truly unique movie and the less you know going in, the better.
Rated 10 Jun 2012
glmglm
Rated 02 Jun 2012
83
74th
83.000
Rated 02 Jun 2012
icybrianIcyBrian
Rated 10 Jan 2012
71
45th
Good performance from Patton Oswalt, even if I did have some trouble relating to his character.
Rated 10 Jan 2012
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 07 Nov 2011
25
61st
"It acutely illustrates how excessive sports fanaticism functions as a strain of insanity that, as posited by the "happy" coda, recommences with every new season." - Nick Schager
Rated 07 Nov 2011
jacoiiiJacoIII
Rated 14 Feb 2011
40
54th
Super depressing but worthwhile film. You really feel for Patton Oswalt even as he refuses redemption at every turn.
Rated 14 Feb 2011
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 05 Feb 2011
62
14th
Except 4 Rapaport who delivers an underrated spot-on performance of a particularly obnoxious type of sports zealot, this disappoints..over and over again. A film would have 2 b much funnier than this 1 to justify such an ultimately pointless, 1-note character arc 4 its lead. Siegel shoots fish in a barrel taking swipes at the easily mockable & just when the film starts 2 enter in2 a truly nailbiting bit of Taxi Driver-like territory, Siegel guts it in favor of yet another "laugh" at his loser.
Rated 05 Feb 2011
janusjanus
Rated 10 Jan 2011
85
88th
The intensely likable Oswalt mopes, sulks, and rages his way through a crisis and writer-director Siegel tops it off in the funniest and most cathartic way (short of outright silliness) possible.
Rated 10 Jan 2011
tripleshTripleSH
Rated 16 Dec 2010
74
58th
Full disclosure: I'm a huge Patton Oswalt fan, and he shines in this film, totally immersing himself in the character. The story itself is pretty good, too, with some pretty powerful scenes scattered throughout the film. My only, and biggest, complaint is that the third act kind of falls flat and spoils a lot of good buildup.
Rated 16 Dec 2010
freqflyerfreqflyer
Rated 05 Nov 2010
80
55th
Original story and interesting characterization of a loser whose life is so empty he only has football to fill it. Competently made, and interesting to watch, but at the end, I kind of wondered what I had learned or whether the movie changed me -- the only take home lesson i could derive from the film would be 'people are jerks or losers'... but i don't really like that lesson, nor do I even think it's true. still, kind of a neat movie, decently made -- certainly not boring.
Rated 05 Nov 2010
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 21 Sep 2010
58
37th
Siegel's treatment of his lead character is sympathetic and probing, continuing the fascination with those on the fringe that was the strongest element of The Wrestler. As played by Oswalt, the character's whole identity is wrapped up in his devotion, and the minor celebrity it affords as a regular participant in a local call-in radio show. The film feels a little thin, though. There's no quite enough there to flesh out the world beyond Siegel's initial clever ideas.
Rated 21 Sep 2010
nilkynarfynilkynarfy
Rated 31 Aug 2010
90
92nd
Patton Oswalt, a man famous for being witty, smart and confident, knocks it out of the park playing a man who isn't any of those things. Story reminded me of a leaner, darker King of Comedy, which I also loved, but this one is actually better somehow. I'm also a sucker for dirty, angry New York movies, they seem more relatable to me.
Rated 31 Aug 2010
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 17 May 2010
81
84th
Hoo boy, talk about cringeworthy. The good kind, that is. Oswalt surprised me with his subdued performance and even though the character arc is rather basic I never lost interest.
Rated 17 May 2010
skiewulfyskiewulfy
Rated 12 May 2010
50
56th
Living only to cheer on the Giants, the protagonist of Big Fan is equal parts pathetic and tragic. Its obvious that the sport he loves will never love him back (violently rejecting him in the form of a beatdown from a drunk QB) and he has no interest in anything outside of his fandom, enduring his mother to avoid having to move out or get a career started. At times cringe inducing, laughably embarrassing and tragic, its an insight into a life you'll be surprised to feel empathy towards.
Rated 12 May 2010
weirdyodaweirdyoda
Rated 26 Apr 2010
91
89th
....wow...well, Robert Siegel has made a big fan out of me, this man knows how to screenwrite! Big Fan and The Wrestler are two of the finest dramas of recent years, I'm looking forward to what is next from this former Editor in Chief of the Onion/burgeoning auteur. Also, I can't imagine anyone giving a better performance than Patton Oswalt does as the die hard Giants fan. ...anyway, great movie, too bad only like 12 people are ever going to see it.
Rated 26 Apr 2010
gtown1479gtown1479
Rated 09 Apr 2010
76
57th
Didn't know people wrote their rants, but I guess it makes sense. The main theme of the movie didn't really shock me. I can see people being this crazy to put the team(that they don't even play for) first in front of EVERYTHING else. I thought Patton was good in the lead role, and had some slightly funny scenes in the parking garage. Besides that didn't really see much humor until the final scene with the schedule. That again is funny, mainly because I feel for some it is really true.
Rated 09 Apr 2010
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 18 Mar 2010
74
49th
As a black comedy about an obsessed misfit, it's mildly comparable to the recent Observe and Report. But where that movie had problems of tone, this one gets the balance right. It's amusing enough and keeps you compelled enough... it's not great or anything, but it's pretty good. My only real complaint is that I thought it was a bit condescending to Oswalt's character, going overboard in making him pathetic. Do we really need to see him masturbating? I don't think so.
Rated 18 Mar 2010
ahamel7896ahamel7896
Rated 13 Mar 2010
8
75th
A look into the nightmare of extreme fandom, though not a condemnation of fandom. That little difference is what I love most about it.
Rated 13 Mar 2010
etceteraetcetera
Rated 06 Mar 2010
84
51st
Best sports movie I've seen in a long while, also shows Oswalt's range as an actor.
Rated 06 Mar 2010
dst7175dst7175
Rated 06 Mar 2010
0
1st
This movie is so dumb. No way a person can be this much of a loser or fan that he would not report on a person that beat him up. Just not believable.
Rated 06 Mar 2010
leshiileshii
Rated 15 Feb 2010
26
5th
A massive disappointment. There's no reason in the world anyone should care for this character or his situation. A wasted performance for Patton Oswalt in a really terribly scripted movie.
Rated 15 Feb 2010
tedted
Rated 13 Feb 2010
80
70th
Entertaining, original, and much deeper than one might expect.
Rated 13 Feb 2010
sebbysebby
Rated 08 Feb 2010
75
84th
You think it's all going to wrap up one very predictable, nauseating way, and then boom: Eagles suck. Awesome.
Rated 08 Feb 2010
halfjapaneseHalfJapanese
Rated 07 Feb 2010
85
76th
A sports movie for people who aren't big on sports. Big Fan is a rather dark character study exploring the arbitrariness of sports fandom (and fandom in general), and how damaging that fandom can be when taken to extremes or when allowed to substitute for identity.
Rated 07 Feb 2010
caimancaiman
Rated 30 Jan 2010
71
40th
Patton Oswalt is very good here and I enjoyed the concept of a loner whose sole meaning for existing is lived out vicariously through a sports team. But overall the movie just didn't do too much for me. Being more than a little apathetic about sports myself, I found the characters' obsessions just a tad too far beyond my realm of understanding to fully appreciate and be enveloped in the situation. The ending was a bit goofy as well. Not horrible, but I doubt I'll revisit this one.
Rated 30 Jan 2010
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 24 Jan 2010
70
20th
Oswalt turns in a wrenching performance, further supporting my theory that comedic actors usually excel in dramatic roles. The film's unsettling tone is brilliant, though I was disappointed to see it weakened by a relatively unsatisfying climax, which essentially amounts to a prank rather than any sort of character growth or meaningful revelation. Otherwise, definitely worthwhile. I'll be interested to see what Siegel does next.
Rated 24 Jan 2010
westknifewestknife
Rated 22 Jan 2010
64
35th
Patton Oswalt is great in this. But wtffffff at the ending
Rated 22 Jan 2010
stflyst_fly
Rated 18 Jan 2010
25
26th
Average. The subject here is a typical sports fan. The point is to explore his obsession but the protagonist is so uninteresting..unlikeable and the filmmakers try so tediously and annoyingly hard to prove his zealous obsession is actually loyalty that by the end, the film feels much...much longer than its short 95 min runtime. Not recommended.
Rated 18 Jan 2010
drstrangeluvdrstrangeluv
Rated 18 Jan 2010
55
31st
Siegel's latest character study doesn't suffer as much without Aronofsky as I figured it would. The climax feels like a bit of a cop-out, and I ended up feeling like Siegel didn't push the whole thing far enough. It was interesting to see this type of obsession on display in a film, and to see Oswalt in a real role. A solid directorial debut from Siegel, but a pretty unmemorable film.
Rated 18 Jan 2010
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 14 Jan 2010
85
87th
This is one of the better dark comedies I have seen in awhile. It seems like an extreme way to look at certain sports fans, but that level of fanaticism is there more often than you'd think. Oswalt is great as the lead and Corrigan is great as his friend. The ending could not have gone any better and I loved the final dialogue with Owalt and Corrigan. For Siegel this wasn't as good as the Wrestler but still a great character study and worth a watch.
Rated 14 Jan 2010
nathandarkoNathanDarko
Rated 09 Jan 2010
78
46th
From the technical point of view Siegel did a great job, but I couldn't get into the plot. Maybe one reason for this is, that I can't understand those people. Another negative point is the stereotype of a looser, that Siegel created with Paul. The fat, masturbating mope, who lives with his mother?!? Whatver it's watchable.
Rated 09 Jan 2010
oldgoatoldgoat
Rated 07 Jan 2010
73
59th
It had its funny moments, and was overall dark. I felt a lot of the themes of the movies were left untended. Either way, a dark funny look at a sports fan and it's good to see Patton in a leading role.
Rated 07 Jan 2010

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