Big Fan (2009)

Recognized in 2009 at Sundance and others, this is a fabulous movie that Jack and I enjoyed immensely. Robert D. Siegel makes an assured directorial debut (he wrote The Wrestler before this) with a story of Paul, an obsessed New York Giants fan, perfectly played by Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara, HBO's Lucky Louie, the voice of Remy in Ratatouille, and more, plus he's a stand-up comedian). His only friend, Sal, is played by the reliable Kevin Corrigan (so many to choose from, but my favorites are "the ugly guy" in Walking and Talking (1996), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), and the TV show Grounded for Life from 2001-05). Perhaps the only thing wrong with Big Fan is that the women characters are little more than an annoyance to Paul and Sal, but their loser lives are so one-dimensional that this is no surprise. Michael Rapaport (again, lots to choose from, I'm going with Higher Learning (1995), the TV show Boston Public (2001-04), and Spike Lee's hilariously offensive Bamboozled (2000)) is the talk-show caller Philadelphia Phil. Jonathan Hamm (not Jon Hamm of Mad Men) is Quantrell, Paul's favorite player, a (fictitious) linebacker.

Imaginatively plotted and skillfully written, this movie is available now on netflix, both on DVD and streaming. It's a palate cleanser after The Blind Side. Even if you don't like football, there's a good chance you'll like Big Fan.