This weekend is all about horror with The Final Destination [FDES4] and Halloween 2 [H2] making their way to theaters. The Final Destination is the continuation of the franchise where characters are slowly picked off after initially escaping death. The film series is known for inventing creative ways to kill its characters, this time in 3-D fashion. Halloween 2 is the sequel to Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of the classic. The clever ads for this fright fest are on the site as we speak.
The Big Fan [BGFAN] is also a horror story of sorts. It’s the kind of horror that ordinary citizens experience when they find out their heroes are humans and possibly weak ones. The sports world is rife with breaking news stories about players guilty of steroid use, engaging in dog-fighting or dating Madonna. The Big Fan is a comedy from writer-director Robert D. Siegel which delighted audiences at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Patton Oswalt plays an everyman named Paul Aufiero, who along with his buddy Sal, sees Giants star linebacker Quantrell Bishop at a gas station. Excited, the two men follow Bishop to a gentleman’s club where the two try to have a dream encounter with Bishop. The football player however mistakes their intentions and a violent confrontation takes place. Poor Paul is beaten up by his favorite player. The aftermath of the incident is about Paul dealing with his anger, disappointment and loss of reverence for a man he so admired.
The film takes a look at hero worship and what happens when everyday people realize that those they put on a pedestal are also human. Siegel is a former Editor-in-Chief of 'The Onion' who wrote and directed The Onion Movie. He also wrote the script for the 2008 hit The Wrestler. As director of The Big Fan, Siegel infuses the film with his cranky yet witty take on the realities of life. For those looking for a dose of something different yet delightful this weekend, The Big Fan is one to root for.