Win Win (2011)

A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach's chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he's double-crossed comes into his life.

Director:

Thomas McCarthy

Writers:

Thomas McCarthy (screenplay), Thomas McCarthy (story),

Stars:

Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale

2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Giamatti	...	Mike Flaherty
Amy Ryan	...	Jackie Flaherty
Bobby Cannavale	...	Terry Delfino
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Stephen Vigman
Burt Young	...	Leo Poplar
Melanie Lynskey	...	Cindy
Alex Shaffer	...	Kyle Timmons
Margo Martindale	...	Eleanor
David W. Thompson	...	Stemler (as David Thompson)
Mike Diliello	...	Jimmy Reed
Nina Arianda	...	Shelly
Marcia Haufrecht	...	Gina Flaherty
Sharon Wilkins	...	Judge Lee
Clare Foley	...	Abby Flaherty
Penelope Kindred	...	Stella Flaherty

Storyline

Disheartened attorney Mike Flaherty (Giamatti), who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, stumbles across a star athlete through some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family. Just as it looks like he will get a double payday, the boy's mother shows up fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything.

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Plot Keywords:

coach | wrestling | high school | high school wrestling | lawyer | 

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Taglines:

In the game of life, you can't lose 'em all.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [us] Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Ganar Ganar

Filming Locations:

Gotham, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£155,463 (UK) (20 May 2011)

Gross:

$10,179,275 (USA) (15 July 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Everest Entertainment, Groundswell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Mario's Pizzeria is a Long Island chain pizzeria and has no presence in New Jersey.

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Quotes

Leo Poplar: Don't take any shit from any of those guys.
Kyle: I won't.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.9 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Sexy Muzaak Esm"
Written by Michael Tavera
Courtesy of EZ Source Music

User Reviews

A Winner

I enjoy Royal Tenenbaums, Juno, and Little Miss Sunshine because they're about eccentric, witty people whose foibles are made less than tragic, their dialogue hypnotizes, and their personas seduce. Then comes Win Win, not as ingenious or innovative as those films but a winner in its own right because it embellishes little while it stays real and lovingly humane.

A little like my family and other interesting neighbors, Win Win has love to spare. Mike (Paul Giamatti) has a failing law practice, moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, and now becomes custodian of elderly Leo Poplar (Burt Young) because Mike needs the $1500 a month. Soon complication arrives with bleached blond Kyle (Alex Schaffer), Leo's grandson, who wants to live with Leo.

Mike is thus faced with more complications than he bargained for in the caretaker role, yet a bit of light shines through as he deals with the taciturn Kyle, who happens to be an excellent wrestler. Mike's relationship with his wife, Jackie (Amy Ryan), is rich with respect between both and patience on her part as she helps Mike through his ethical challenge and his guidance of Kyle.

Nothing comes easy in this dramedy, as it doesn't for most of us, but the beauty of this film is that it slowly works out all the kinks of life in a slowly distributed narrative with triumphs and setbacks that seem to come naturally. Because the central characters are loving and largely benign, the film has an easy, unforced quality.

Terry (Bobby Cannavale) is especially likable as Mike's old wrestling buddy, recently split from his wife, and full of energy to channel as assistant coach helping with their new wrestling star. Cannavale brings an easy charm to the film; he's an enjoyable foil for the schlubby, depressive Giammatti.

Although a few swear words, mostly "f bombs," are dotted in the dialogue, it is essentially a family where the characters live to love.