Win Win, 2011.
Directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Starring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Alex Shaffer, Burt Young and Jeffrey Tambor.
SYNOPSIS:
A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) decides to ‘innocently’ relocate an elderly client with dementia, Leo Poplar (Burt ‘Paulie’ Young), into a nursing home to receive his guardian benefit. This duplicitous act comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer) of the client he’s double-crossed comes into his life.
Let me start with a bold statement – Win Win is charting in my Top 10 Best Films of the Year. This is a well-written and rich story that is filled with phenomenally believable characters, performed spectacularly.
Writer/Director Thomas McCarthy immerses us into modern suburban New Jersey in a dreary financial climate, that contextualises protagonist Mike Flaherty and gives him an ethical choice to make – do I do the ‘right’ thing or the ‘right thing for my family- right now’. He decides that because he cannot find his client’s family after several attempted contacts that he will nominate himself as guardian of his client, receive a monetary benefit, and place him into a nursing home (which is best for the amount of care he requires). This decision; which initially has no consequence; becomes exceptionally problematic when his client’s grandson Kyle comes to town to looking to stay with his grandfather, and Leo’s long lost daughter Cindy (Melanie Lynsky) comes into town attempting to retrieve her son. This triggers a series of events that continually compound his troubles and make for a fascinatingly ‘real’ feeling drama with some sweet and genuine comedic moments.
The film is beautifully written, with a great pace – that steadily immerses and lulls you into the depths of the story. The direction is great and aesthetically looks to be authentic – it doesn’t distract you from the focus that is the story the characters and the dialogue. I really want to stress that every interaction is so richly written, and all of the characters are so fully formed that it is really difficult not to like / empathise with every point of view.
Before I go into the amazing performances in this film I have to give a massive shout-out to the people casting this film – Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee. Every actor is perfectly cast. I will say that again, perfectly cast. I don’t think that I could fault any choice, each person (even the children) are totally perfect as his or her characters – they are genuinely believable and feel like ‘real’ multidimensional people.
Firstly let’s start with Paul Giamatti’s Mike. This is another accomplished performance that should be lauded and praised. He fulfills every part of Mike’s journey with such great ease that if he hadn’t been getting more and more roles and exposure you’d easily forget that you’re watching Paul Giamatti. This is a character that needed to be liked and disliked; loved and hated in parts – there are very few actors that can effortlessly navigate that spectrum. Giamatti = Flawless.
Moving to the supporting characters I’ll start with Amy Ryan as Mike’s wife Jackie. Now for those of you who haven’t seen / heard of Amy Ryan; she’s a character actor whose been Oscar nominated for her performance in Ben Affleck’s stunning debut Gone Baby Gone, and has delivered iconic and fantastic performances in the greatest television show ever made The Wire and the American version of The Office. Ryan quite simply works perfectly as the foil to Mike (either to be the rash or conversely extremely caring and empathetic) and demonstrates that she’s an actress that is on her way to becoming one of the great female character actors of our time.
Alex Shaffer’s Kyle also had a great arc that required a lot, performing alongside the caliber of actor’s I’ve just mentioned. And yet, he’s accomplished at being the laconic, monotone, and occasionally brash. Jeffrey Tambor’s Stephen (Mike’s work colleague and assistant coach) is an exceptional support without acting in a role that his phenomenal comedic ‘chops’ are on show. I will say that his sense of timing and subtle physical comedy is utilized greatly when Mike’s best friend Terry (Bobby Cannavale) joins their coaching ranks. Cannavale is terrific as the recently divorced Terry. His obsession with his former wife’s new partner contrasts his great directionless musings. Finally I’ll give a special mention to Burt Young’s Leo – who while sweet and old in Win Win – is infused with his great former volatility for viewers familiar with his work. This is a great dimension that informs his performance, and the performances of the people around him.
Win Win drags the audience into that lovely grey area – not allowing you to know the good guys is in white and the bad guys are in black. You are just asked to follow Mike (Giamatti) into a series of moral quandaries – and invariably you ask yourself; “would I have done different?” It’s stunning, poignant, real and speaks to our current times.
I don’t usually give ratings at the end of my reviews, but this gets 4 and a half eggs – Win Win wins.
Blake Howard is a writer/site director/podcaster at the castleco-op.com.
Movie Review Archive
Originally published August 25, 2011. Updated April 10, 2018.
