Patton Oswalt Loves Comics, Not Sports

By Amber James Posted Aug 27th 2009 08:55AM

Although actor Patton Oswalt plays a New York Giants super fan in his upcoming movie 'Big Fan,' he "doesn't follow sports at all," he admitted to PopEater. "Basically I had to draw on my geeky love for comics. It's the same spark, just different fuel," he said.

In the film, Oswalt plays a parking garage attendant who is self-described as the "world's biggest New York Giants fan." Since its debut in January at the Sundance Film Festival, the eerie comedy has received a lot of buzz asserting the film has Oscar and Golden Globe potential.

Even Oswalt is taken aback by the nomination chatter though. "I honestly don't know what to do when you're nominated. I'm assuming they send a car for you, and you go to some parties," he jokes. "I'd be really happy if the movie got nominated... It would be good to see that happen knowing how hard Robert [Siegel] worked on this film," Oswalt added.

'Big Fan' will arrive in theaters nationwide on August 28.

What did you really like about the script when you first read it?
"It is really well written. The fact that Siegel wanted me in the lead in this really well-crafted work meant so much to me. Everything else, all this stuff that's happening is just frosting on top of frosting. The cake was frosted when we finished the film, and now there's just a little bit more frosting on it."

What makes 'Big Fan' different than other sports films out there?
"The movie is really about the character. It's pretty ballsy in that it's about a character that is victorious in resisting any kind of change. He doesn't change at all, which is way more realistic than these movies where people go through huge life changes. I really, really liked that. The dialogue was so perfect, and it was funny, sad and scary, without hitting you over the head with any of those. My character is a huge Giants fan, but he has the kind of love for the Giants that goes beyond people just screaming in the stands. It's quiet, reverent worship."

Your 'Comedians of Comedy' partner Zach Galifianakis broke out this summer in 'The Hangover.' Are you hoping this movie gives your career that sort of momentum? "All I want to do is stuff that's fun for me, whether it is in a big budget movie that blows up or some smaller movie. I am not hoping to emulate anyone else's career. I'm hoping to do stuff that I think is fun and interesting. I'm leaving fate to take me where it will."

What was better: playing a sports fanatic or a foodie rat in 'Ratatouille'?
"Doing a voice over and going to Pixar, that whole experience was so fun. It never felt like I was going to work. But 'Big Fan' was hard. I really had to figure out a different person than who I am. I had to get use to not tagging things with a joke. It was all new territory for me."

You're also going to be doing stand-up at the comedy festival in NYC this year. Can you tell me about that? "There will be a lot of new material. My album ['My Weakness is Strong'] comes out August 25, so hopefully the months between now and then, I'll have developed a lot of new stuff. That's the plan at least... And I am not really into ripping on things anymore. I am more about talking about things I love. That can be whatever is happening in my day. It literally changes hour to hour. I like the fact that I kind of don't know. That keeps it fun for me."

Do you have other projects coming up? "I just signed on as a regular to 'Caprica,' which is a prequel to 'Battlestar Galactica.' I'm also a regular on 'United States of Tara' and have a pretty good role in 'The Informant,' a movie Steven Soderbergh directed. In the meantime, I'll be finishing up my book, and hopefully it will come out next spring... I don't know what it is going to be about yet. It's all random essays, but I might tie it into a narrative. I haven't decided yet. We'll have to wait and see."

Check out more of PopEater's exclusive interview with Patton Oswalt, where he discusses fatherhood and his new baby girl.

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Patton Oswalt Snapshots

Comedian Patton Oswalt is tackling his next role in 'Big Fan,' playing a 35-year-old parking garage attendant who is self-described as "the world's biggest New York Giants fan." The movie hits theaters on August 28. MORE >>

First Independent Pictures

Patton Oswalt Snapshots

Patton Oswalt stars in 'Big Fan.' He plays a 35-year-old parking garage attendant from Staten Island who is self-described as "the world's biggest New York Giants fan." The movie hits theaters nationwide on August 28.

First Independent Pictures

Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan (R) star in 'Big Fan.'

First Independent Pictures

Patton Oswalt as Spence on the hit comedy sitcom 'The King of Queens.'

Robert Voets, CBS

Patton Oswalt did the voice of Remy the rat in Pixar's animated feature film, 'Ratatouille.'

Getty Images / Disney

Tags: big fan movie review, BigFanMovieReview, exclusive interviews, ExclusiveInterviews, patton oswalt, PattonOswalt, sundance film festival, SundanceFilmFestival

Comments

(2)

Sunday 30 August

By salexfo

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The best Sports film ever was and still is "Any Given Sunday". Now that's what I call a movie!
It depicts so well all the emotions that sports fans will towards their team and during the game.
And the Giants?
Well they still suck:http://www.blitzcorner.com/MLB/Giants-Try-to-Forget-Horrible-Loss

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