Recently, theres been more and more writers taking a stab at directing. From Paul Haggis’s shitfest; “Crash” to Charles Kaufman’s all too convoluted for its own good; “Synecdoche, NY”, they havent been that great. In my opinion there hasn’t been a GREAT writer-turned-director since the likes of Paul Schrader (although he hasn’t made a good film in quite some time either). Lemme know if you think otherwise. Anyway, for a first time effort, “Big Fan” is pretty solid. Its very reminiscent of Scorsese’s “King of Comedy”, in the sense that it deals with the dark side of celebrity fanatics. A lot has been made of Patton Oswald acting in a more serious role, but in all honesty, the movie’s not as “dark” as people are making it out to be (although the movie does have its share of serious parts). In “Big Fan”, Patton Oswald plays a lonely football fanatic that lives with his mother, who gets beaten up by his favorite football player (ficticious New York Giants linebacker; Quantrell Bishop) at night club, over a simple misunderstanding. Things get complicated, because he doesnt want to press charges, due to the fact that it could cost the Giants a good record and a spot in the playoffs if they lose their star linebacker. The film is shot in a more “natural way”, similar to last years “The Wrestler”, which the first-time director also wrote. Patton Oswald does a great job, but Kevin Corrigan and Michael Rappaport (in a small but memorable role as a die hard eagles fan) give the standout performances in my opinion. Im almost certain Kevin Corrigan will be nominated for an independent spirit award for best supporting actor (you heard it here first). This movie also came out at peculiar point in time. I wonder if its any coincidnece that a movie about a rich black athlete in legal trouble came out around the same time of Michael Vick’s prison release and the Plaxico Burress incident. The film even touches on the fact that the only reason the public wants to crucify these althetes who get in to trouble is because they’re black (say what you want, you know its true. Rich Black Men anger a lot people. And the minute they slip up, that’s all the public needs too hang ‘em). So yeah, good movie, but its not as “serious” as you think.