Robert D. Siegel's "Big Fan" follows Paul Aufiero (Patton Oswalt) as he contemplates whether he should put his own interests over the interests of his beloved New York Giants. In the process, he goes from being a psycho sports fan to just being a psycho. Siegal's theory is that the only thing distinguishing the two state of minds is one word. While there has been plenty of celluloid spooled out on the deranged loner, "Big Fan" is a very specific, tightly wound examination with a surprisingly good, central performance by Oswalt.

Paul's job is to take tickets at a parking garage. This would seem like a pretty miserable existence but it does afford Paul an opportunity to write down notes for his call-ins to a local sports radio program. This he takes very seriously as it is Paul's job to defend his team against the unsavory likes of Philadelphia Phil, who is seemingly as unhinged in his adoration. Never mind that Paul's radio program of choice airs at midnight and his enthusiastic, pumped-up calls awake his mother (Marcia Jean Kurtz), who sleeps in the next room. Paul enjoys the attention and, more importantly, feels like he is a part of something larger than himself. The Giants...need him. When his brother-in-law promises him a better job at some lame Costco rip-off, Paul seems to resent the insinuation that he needs more in his life. What more is there to life other than rooting for your favorite football team with your best bud (Kevin Corrigan) in the drizzly, gray parking lot of Giants Stadium?

Of course, even the simplest of lives are subject to complication. Paul is out one night and spots the Giants' star player Quantrill Bishop (Jonathan Hamm). An innocent interaction goes from harmless to violent quick. In short, Paul gets pummeled Paul ends up in the hospital and his family want him to sue. The police want him to talk. But Paul believes that anything he does to hurt Quantrill will hurt the Giants. So he starts to burrow himself further and further into his dark, innsulated world seemingly innocent developments look more and more threatening and ominous through Paul's eyes.

For a film to delve into the mind of an unpredictable loner is nothing new. But Siegel, in his directorial debut after writing last year's great "The Wrestler", looks at a very specific type. I don't listen to a whole lot of sports radio but the little I do, coupled with my unfortunate journeys to live sports events, makes me wonder about the stability of those who take these things too seriously. I don't mean the typical, run-of-the-mill sports fan; I mean the real nuts. (While I am no sports fan, I am in no position to throw rocks in this glass house considering my obsession for movies. I equate fans like Paul to he same types of people who commit crimes to impress Jodie Foster.) I mean, entertainment can be as addictive as any substance. Getting "into" sports is just taking something and filling your brain with it. It's not much different than having a drink. But that can be all-consuming.  This is simply a story about a sports fan who becomes all-consumed. "Big Fan" just wants to make the audience contemplate this for a little bit. While it tries to inject some <i>faux</i> tension into the proceedings that requires some cheats that only a first-time director would find appropriate, the film ultimately works at a very niche-level.

A real treat is watching Oswalt in the lead. Best known as a second-banana comedian (and the lead voice in Pixar's "Ratatouille"), Oswalt jumps into this darkly-weird lead role with aplomb. He is, by no means, perfect but does make an interesting choice to play Paul not as a dark weirdo but more as a pouty, entitled baby. His sourpuss during awkward moments says more about this character than whole sheets of dialogue. It's inspired and makes the film worth watching. If you're in Springfield, "Big Fan" is at The Moxie for the rest of the week.

Three stars (out of five)

"Big Fan" is Rated R for language and some sexuality.