For Your Consideration - Top and Bottom Edition

For Your Consideration is a weekly round-up of upcoming indie limited releases. The idea is to either expose you to or remind you of films that can't afford to plaster their posters on the sides of buildings or accompany your Happy Meal in toy form.

This week's FYC stretches from the bottom to the top. From the tale of the near religious devotion of a football fan to a documentary exploring an almost god-like figurehead of a $300 billion dollar industry.

BIG FAN

What: Big Fan marks the directorial debut of Robert D. Siegel, the screenwriter of The Wrestler and former editor-in-chief of The Onion. The film follows a die-hard New York Giants fan that finds his faith in the Giants questioned after he is severely beaten by one of the team's linebackers.

Where: NY - Angelika Film Center; LA - Opens 9/11 at the Nuart

Why: Debuting at this year's Sundance, Big Fan received a bit of a mixed reaction, but luckily the majority of the negative reviews stemmed from the expectation that a Patton Oswalt-star vehicle would be a lot more light-hearted. With The Wrestler, Siegel proved he could craft an excellent character study in the sports world, but at the end of the day, it was just another story of an underdog in a genre bursting at the seams with them. Big Fan is refreshing, in that, instead of being another tale of the select few champions, it focuses on the fans - the overwhelming masses whose unwavering enthusiasm allow for sports to exist. It's great to see Siegel taking what could've so easily been a comedy considering the material and his pedigree and making it a compelling drama, and any fear of stunt casting should be put aside as Patton Oswalt is receiving rave reviews for his balanced portrayal of the titular fan.

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

What: The third film from R.J. Cutler, The September Issue is an insider's view of the world of fashion. The documentary centers on Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief for twenty years, and how she and the magazine have shaped the creative, entertaining and emotionally demanding fashion world. Cutler uses his unprecedented behind the scenes access to capture all of the moments that go into creating Vogue's September issue - also known as the "fashion bible."

Where: NY - Landmark Sunshine Cinema, AMC Loews Lincoln Center 13, Empire 25, Cinema 123, LA - 9/11 Playhouse 7

Why: Ad copy predictably hails it as "the real Devil Wears Prada", but instead of a schmaltzy story of the delicate art of balancing love with work, The September Issue presents an unprecedented look at the struggles of being consistent and secure in an industry that is all about the next big thing.

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