Rob Siegel, former editor in chief at The Onion, hit both the highest highs and the lowest lows since transitioning to Hollywood screenwriting. First he saw his The Onion Movie get shelved for year and barely appear on DVD; then last year’s The Wrestler appealed to audiences and critics alike as an unexpected comeback vehicle for Mickey Rourke. This year, he’s directed his first feature called Big Fan, with Patton Oswalt, and rather than the comedy you’d probably expect from Siegel and Oswalt, it’s a dark look at sports fandom and people who aren’t content to settle for “normal” lives. Read on for the full interview where Siegel talks about The Wrestler, directing his first feature, and why writing is much harder than directing.
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Patton Oswalt’s starring role in Big Fan is a huge departure from what his fans will expect. It’s not a comedic role, but rather a dark turn as a fan so deeply obsessed with his beloved New York Giants that he exists solely to serve the team. Even when presented with the opportunity to change his life forever, he holds on to his bottom-rung job as a toll-booth attendant and continues down the same path he’s on at the start of the film.
We caught up with Oswalt at Sundance and he spoke about Dungeons & Dragons, how he’s over the fad of improvising, and why Crank is equal to Rachel Getting Married.
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