Big Fan

Drew's Thoughts:
Big Fan is the directorial debut of Dolphin-nominee Robert Siegel who wrote last year's Best Picture winner The Wrestler. Unlike The Wrestler though this is more of a comedy, though a dark one.
The film follows Patton Oswalt as the titular character, Paul, a massive NY Giants fan whose life routinely consists of working in a parking garage tollbooth listening to his favorite radio show Sports Dog and writing out and rehearsing the statement he plans to make when he calls into the show after getting off work. He does this everyday, continuing an ongoing debate with Philadelphia Phil, another obsessed fan alligned with the rival "Eagle nation". On Sundays, Paul tailgates with all the other fans before watching the game in the stadium parking lot on a TV hooked up to a car battery.
What seems like a sudden turn of good fortune falls into Paul's lap when he encounters his favorite player one night but things turn nasty when the player puts Paul in the hospital.
Siegel has a lot to learn when it comes to directorial technique but he tells a very unusual story that moves in unexpected ways. Patton Oswalt also gives an engaging performance as someone you might ridicule normally but you certainly sympathize with him in the film.
Big Fan is a pretty good and uncommon movie, though I don't think it's strong enough to muscle out any of the preexisting Dolphin contenders.