By Scott Marks

One look at the trailer for Robert Siegel’s “Big Fan” and it was love at first sight. Paul (Patton Oswalt), a parking garage attendant/mama’s boy who worships the New York Giants, runs into the team’s quarterback Quantrell Bishop (Jonathan Hamm) in a strip club. After an innocent exchange of words, the coked-out hurler beats Paul within an inch of his life, yet the big fan refuses to press charges in fear that the star QB would be sidelined, thus costing “his” team any chance of a successful season.

I spoke with Robert Siegel, author of “The Wrestler” and co-writer/director of “Big Fan” about sportsophobia, stand-up comics turned actors, racism and homo-eroticism among sports fans and our shared love of all things Scorsese.

I could have written my review of this film based solely on the trailer. This is one of the most original story ideas I’ve seen in years. Here’s the big question. Are you a sportsophobe like I am?

No, I’m not. I’m sorry. I hate to disappoint. I’m a sportsophile.

Really? Your jock friends must want your head.

(Laughing) Sports fans love this movie. They relate to it and think it’s great. A lot of people say, “I know that guy! That guy is just like me.” I know it seems strange, but sports fans wear their extremism as a badge of pride.

But this is not a flattering depiction of sports fans.

Not strictly speaking, but it is a tribute of sorts to their passion. They view the passion and loyalty and dedication to the team as all good things. Honorable qualities. Of course, taken to extremes it’s not good, but I think they see themselves as dedicated and loyal and passionate.

Are either Patton or Kevin (Corrigan) sportsophobes?

I wouldn’t say phobes, but neither of them are sports fans. They’re kind of indifferent. They don’t know anything about sports and they don’t follow it. Patton connected with the theme of obsession of a particularly nerdy sort. Patton is not into sports, but he is hugely into comic books and movies, so he knows a thing or two about being way, way into something. I think he was able to relate to it on that level.

Admittedly, this is not exclusively about sports fans. It’s about obsessive behavior like “California Split” or “King of Comedy.”

Yes. Exactly.

Sports notwithstanding, the one thing we share in common is a deep and undying love for Martin Scorsese. Do you know Scorsese’s take on professional sports?

No, I don’t.

Somebody once asked him, “Marty, what do you think of sports?” He paused and said, “Anything with a ball, no good.”

Really?

Oh, come on. Look at his films.

He’s never made a movie about it, but I don’t think I can glean anything from his body of work that tells me he doesn’t like sports.

I got it from the “American Masters” documentary about him during the closing credits. For me, it was a moment of blinding confirmation.

“Color of Money” doesn’t count as a sports film?

Well, there’s “Raging Bull,” too. I think he’s more interested in what goes on outside the poolroom and ring than anything inside. C’mon. “Raging Bull” is a damning portrait of a sports figure.

Yeah, but you can damn the figure but love the sport. If he said that he said that. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I don’t think his work suggests a guy who doesn’t like sport. He certainly likes to explore the nature of masculinity and how it’s tied to sports in our culture.

How did the producers react when you told them that you want to cast a stand-up comic in a semi-dramatic performance? Did you meet with much resistance?

They were really supportive. It helps that it’s a very low budget movie and the stakes are lower than they might be. I think they got my vision for it. I had the ultimate last call on it. Comedians to me tend to be in touch with their darker side. I think it’s much harder for a dramatic actor to play a comedic role than vice-versa. If you ever listen to his stand-up the rage comes out in an almost charming and cuddly way, but he’s definitely in touch with his angry side.

Do you think that there is a certain degree of homo-eroticism inherent in football fans? You see a lot of that in the film: Paul and Sal grabbing at each other in the parking lot, the camera slowly lingering over Quantrell’s musculature on the poster hanging on the wall in Paul’s bedroom, Sal lying in the bed in a pre-masturbatory pose as he listens to Paul on the sports radio talk show…

Yeah, definitely… all of that. It’s a redirection of sexuality into something else. I think of Paul’s relationship with Quantrell as kind of the central… some people have said this movie doesn’t have a love relationship and I think it does. The love relationship is between Paul and Quantrell. It’s a tale of unrequited love.

There are so many wonderful little touches in the film concerning Paul’s mania. I love that he sleeps on NFL sheets. Do you know people like Paul?

No, but yes. Even though it’s about a Giant’s fan it’s more based on guys I would see going to Mets games as a kid. A lot of them could be guys sitting in the background of a Scorsese movie. I don’t know why, but I’m just attracted to that kind of character. I guess I’m just a sucker for outer borough loners. I’d see these guys going to Mets games and I didn’t know them, but they were always interesting to me. Picture super passionate guys that don’t have much of a life.

I waited throughout the film waiting to see if you were going to draw attention to Quantrell’s race and eventually the word “moulinjohn” comes up. First off, it’s a Marty word. I think it’s in every one of his films and if he could have figured out how to work it into “Kundun” or “Age of Innocence” he would have. Why is it important that Paul’s brother refer to Quantrell as a “moulinjohn?”

The actor (Gino Cafarelli) who said it is also a big Scorsese fan. I don’t think that’s any kind of direct tribute to Scorsese. (Gino’s) an Italian and it’s just an Italian epithet.

For once I’m not looking for a Scorsese connection, but the whole idea that maybe there is a certain degree of racism inherent in sports fans.

Oh, definitely.

A question about plot points that bothered me. Why don’t the police grill Sal? After all, he was the only sober eyewitness to the event.

I’ve been asked that. Truthfully, I think it’s just a plot hole that I just left in there. Maybe Paul tells Sal not to talk. I probably should have had a scene where Sal and Paul have a little strategic get-together where he tells Sal that he wants him to stonewall the cops. Maybe even a scene where the cop is talking to Sal. Or maybe Sal didn’t even admit he was there. Maybe Sal plays Chewbacca to Paul’s Han Solo. I probably should have put something in there to clarify that.

I admire your honesty. What’s next for you? Another sports film?

I should probably think of something else, truthfully, but I don’t know what I’m doing next. I’ve got a few things that I’ve written that are in the clutches of big studios, so I’ll probably never get to shoot those. Maybe if this is a big success that might change. I think that I should probably think of something completely new. As soon as this is all over I’ll take a long walk and hopefully something will pop into my head.

Make a western or a musical. Be like Marty. Try to work in every genre known to man. Have you ever met Scorsese?

No. I’m trying to think.. .have I ever met Scorsese. I definitely haven’t met him, I was just trying to think if we ever had any connections. I hope that he sees the movie.

He’ll love it.

Years ago I actually sent (the script) to Barbara DeFina his producer and I got a very polite “no thank you.” I made a brief, early attempt to get him to read it and direct it, but it never went anywhere.

Can you take a bit of constructive criticism from a curmudgeonly old movie critic?

Sure.

The only complaint I had with the film was too many close-ups. I think that these characters are so interesting that I wanted to see more of how they relate to their environment as opposed to tight shots of their faces.

A lot of that comes down to budget. We shot this super, super fast and I thought the close-ups were more interesting. If I had more tools… if I had a dolly… the budget for this was ridiculously low. I didn’t have the tools that I would have liked, but that’s fair.

You’ll get them in the future. I hope this is a big success for you.

Thanks.

I’m a big fan!

Scott Marks was born and raised in some of the finest single screen movie theaters in Chicago. He moved to San Diego in 2000 and has never looked back. Scott authors the blog emulsioncompulsion.com and is co-host of KPBS-Radio’s Film Club of the Air. Please address any bouquets or brickbats to [email protected].