Big Fan and the Power of Belief.

Belief is a powerful thing.

Whether our proverbial eggs lay in a basket of religion, or love, or politics, everyone (probably) has something that they conceive to be ‘bigger than one’s self.’ In “Big Fan”, we enter the church of sports.

Paul Aufiero, played masterfully by comedian Patton Oswalt, is the “Big Fan” whose life revolves around two things: The New York Giants and sports-talk radio. Director Robert Siegel has placed Aufiero in a world that doesn’t understand him: His family doesn’t understand how a nearly-40 year old man would be content to work as a parking attendant, and to live with his mother. As the audience, we also exist to reinforce these feelings. However, Aufiero’s character is a careful trick on the audience; we are, at times, led to believe that he is a ne’er-do-well dimwit, though he reveals himself to be more perceptive and insightful than the rest of his family. His revulsion at the rest of his family for celebrating his philandering, ambulance-chaser brother shows a bit of depth to Paul’s character.

Paul clearly just wants to be left alone to enjoy the Giants, either from his friend’s couch, or the Meadowlands parking lot during game-time. But trouble finds him, as a chance encounter with his favorite player at a Manhattan strip club leads to a violent altercation, and a hospital stay for Aufiero. When Paul wakes up, battered and bruised, he finds himself embroiled in a front-page controversy involving the suspension of his favorite player. His family comes to his aid, and expects that Paul would seize this opportunity to better his life and seize upon an all but certain multi-million lawsuit, but he has no interest.

Without spoiling the third act, I’ll say this: “Big Fan” and the trials and tribulations of Paul Aufiero are fascinating. At times, I was baffled by Paul and also felt like I understood him. We all have things in life that are bigger than ourselves, and we all make choices in life that people will disagree with. Hollywood has been making movies for years about the protagonist’s destruction to protect something he or she loves, but I sense that people may not see the same thing in “Big Fan.” I suspect most would write this off as the tale of a sad man whose priorities are out of whack with what our society wants for him. And I think Paul Aufiero would be OK with that… just don’t bother him on Sundays.

(A)