Win Win (2011) User Reviews

Terrific sleeper

[dfranzen70 · 8/10 · 4 March 2011]

Win Win is a terrific multigenre sleeper. It's funny, even hilarious; it has mystery and action; and it features brilliant performances by the always-reliable Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan. It's also not a movie that wallows in treacly messages, and it's not a movie that uses sports as a crutch for "finding one's inner strength." In short, it's a wonderful, top-notch movie.

Giamatti plays Mike Flaherty, a small-time lawyer who's running low on cash. He moonlights as coach of the local high-school team, which is, to put it bluntly, terrible. In a burst of fiscal sanity, Mike offers to become legal guardian for Leo, one of his clients (played by the crusty Burt Young), who's just been declared legally incapacitated. Why? Because as his guardian, Mike gets $1500 a month. But since he wants to avoid the extra hassle of actually taking care of Leo, he puts him in a nice home. Seriously, it's a nice home, with nice people and a big flat-screen TV.

At this point, the movie wants us on Mike's side – sort of. He needs the cash, and he doesn't really want to tell his wife Jackie (Ryan) that they're running low, not with two young daughters to care for as well. Plus he's coach of a terrible team and is just swimming in stress. Swimming in it. So much so that while jogging to work off the stress, he suffers a panic attack.

Just when Mike thinks some of his problems have been solved, teenage Kyle (Alex Shaffer) walks into his life. Kyle, it turns out, his Leo's grandson, and they've never met. Kyle's been sent by his mom to visit Leo. At first, this complicates things – especially when Kyle seems awfully reluctant to go back home to Ohio – but then Mike's remaining big problem is solved. It turns out the kid is a gifted wrestler. Who'd have thought that? He looks scrawny, but in practices Kyle shows he has the mettle. And thus things are riding well for Mike.

But this would be a truly dull (if inspirational) movie if things continued to ride well. One thing we learn early on is that Mike intentionally misled the judge in Leo's case, giving the impression that he would be actively taking care of Leo. But things really get going when Kyle's druggie mom (Melanie Lynskey) shows up to bring her boy back – and to take over as Leo's guardian.

Too often, Giamatti has played real sad-sack characters, guys who just can't seem to catch a break, guys who suffer at the hands of fickle fate. Not so here. Mike isn't exactly a conniving mastermind, but he's not an idiot, either, and he deals with each situation with logic and reason, even as they spiral further out of his control. It's a typically masterful Giamatti performance, and for once he's not a total loser who's in over his head. He's even a half-decent coach who simply has a lackluster team to work with.

Giamatti's not alone, though. I really got a kick out of Amy Ryan's performance as his somewhat-exasperated spouse Jackie, who's not terribly fond of suddenly having a teenage boy around at first. A few years back, Ryan turned in an Oscar-nominated performance as a native Bostonian in Gone Baby Gone. Ryan had a thick, believable Boston accent then. Here, she's playing a New Jersey native, but at no point does she go overboard with the Jersey Shore dialect. That's what good actresses can do – they can dial it back when they have to and show a little nuance.

Win Win is not a stand-up-and-cheer movie, although the audience at the screening I attended applauded when it was over. It's not a crime drama, and it doesn't really have a lot of twists to its plot. What makes it work are all of the truly sincere, dead-on performances: by Giamatti, Ryan, Shaffer, Lynskey, Bobby Cannavale, and even Jeffrey Tambor as one of Mike's wrestling assistant coaches. Not a sour note in the bunch, everyone at the top of his or her game.

This might have fared well, critically, if it were released during awards season. It sort of reminded me of last year's Greenburg, starring Ben Stiller, only funnier and sweeter. Win Win is a charming, quiet movie that reminds us that, as the Grateful Dead once told us, once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

A Charming film about Love, Family, and Wrestling

[JustCuriosity · 9/10 · 15 March 2011]

Win Win is a charming delightful film about an ordinary family dealing with the struggles of everyday life. Writer/Director Tom McCarthy should be commended for his excellent work. Paul Giamatti – a true everyman actor – delivers a wonderful performance as a lawyer and wrestling coach struggling with the challenges of family and money in New Jersey. In the process of taking guardianship for an elderly client Giamatti's character, Mike Flaherty, becomes enmeshed in the old man's family when the old man's grandson shows up literally on his front doorstep. The teenager turns out to be an incredible wrestler, which is a great asset to Mike's awful wrestling team. And then things begin to get complicated. Giamatti specializes in bringing forth flawed characters that are delightfully human. This is a funny, sweet film that combines comedy and drama. Win Win also reminds us that family goes well beyond blood relatives; family is the constantly evolving circle of people that we love and care about. I literally walked out of theater just feeling much better than when I walked in. That has to be one of the best ways to judge any film.

Great characters looking for something in life and "Win Win" just might be that something

[napierslogs · 8/10 · 24 April 2011]

As in Thomas McCarthy's first film, "The Station Agent", there is an air of loneliness to the characters in "Win Win" but also with an ability to be kind and with a whole lot of humour permeating throughout. Mike (Paul Giamatti) is approaching a mid-life crisis; the monotony of daily life and money troubles colliding. But this is a well written film and it doesn't look or feel like a mid-life crisis. Just as we get to know the characters exceedingly well (despite the short air time for some - Bobby Cannavale's Terry), a plot is introduced. Mike starts acting like a sleazy lawyer just to make some easy money, even though he's anything but a sleazy lawyer. Because he's a good guy, realities quickly catch up, and he starts taking responsibility for a troubled kid. Mostly trying to assuage his guilt of wrong-doing, but this kid happens to be a wrestling phenom and Mike is a struggling high school wrestling coach. This film could easily turn into an underdog sports story, but as I said before, this is a well written film and it doesn't look or feel like an underdog sports story. I found "Win Win" to be a great mix of character study, a mid-life crisis, and an underdog sports story all rolled into something that isn't any of the above. It's a light, funny, enjoyable slice of life that could provide a few lessons on morality but stops itself before it becomes condescending.

A Winner

[JohnDeSando · 7 April 2011]

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.

A nice film for a quiet afternoon.

[JimmyCollins · 6/10 · 15 August 2011]

Paul Giamatti is awesome, simple as that. Such a talented actor, I have yet to see him in a film that I haven't enjoyed. So of course Win Win is the next on the list on his impressive resume, the story was surprisingly quite complex but not difficult to keep track of which is the work of a great director.

The character of Jack is very reminiscent of Giamatti's character from Storytelling, a guy somewhat down on his luck who just can't seem to get ahead or on top of things, of course these films are very different but the similarities are definitely there.

Amy Ryan impressed me a lot, I've never seen her in anything before but after seeing this I look forward to catching other films with her, she has a great presence in screen and her and Giamatti work excellently together... Also worth mentioning is the always fantastic Jeffrey Tambor, equally as cool as Giamatti.

The only thing I thought didn't work was Melanie Lynskey, that woman has one of the sweetest faces and personalities, and seeing her playing a gold digging, backstabbing selfish mother just didn't work. I still love her though.

A nice film that is not groundbreaking, but especially entertaining and pleasant to watch.

Neither fish nor fowl, but engaging nonetheless

[neil-476 · 7/10 · 27 May 2011]

I'm not too sure what to make of Win Win. Paul Giamatti is Mike. His law practice is going down the tubes, and the high school wrestling team he coaches is rubbish and loses every match it plays. When he gets involved in Leo (Burt Young)'s affairs - Leo is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and his daughter is absent with a drug habit - he sees an opportunity to put Leo in a home (Leo wants to stay in his house) and pocket the management fee paid by the State. It then turns out that Leo comes with a teenage grandson who happens to be a phenomenal wrestler. And then the daughter turns up.

This film doesn't conveniently fit into any category. It is sometimes amusing, but it's no comedy. There are elements of Karate Kid and Rocky in the wrestling matches. And, most of all, it is a morality play of sorts:Leo's actions put him in a difficult place, but he develops as a person as a result. In that respect I suppose the film is quite successful, and it benefits from believable performances from all the principal characters.

Where it falls down is in that there are a number of areas where it simply isn't believable. While I can understand Mike falling victim to temptation, surely he would then have gone on to arrange to rent out Leo's house? The sums didn't really add up here. And I found it difficult to believe he would have got off so lightly, notwithstanding the daughter's attitude. And the wrestling grandson was a major coincidence.

Having said that, I was quite happy to live with these reservations, and I found the movie quietly pleasing.

A Movie For Our Times

[zkonedog · 9/10 · 11 March 2017]

Many films (for better or worse) portray an idealized form of life/drama to combat the current economic malaise. "Win Win" is not that kind of film; instead choosing to revel in the struggles of day-to-day life and work through them.

For a basic plot summary, "Win Win" sees Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) struggling to make a living for himself and his family. His law practice is hemorrhaging funds, the bills are piling up at home, and his health is even failing due to the anxiety. After becoming personally involved with a client (Burt Young), Mike "inherits" a son (Alex Shaffer) who provides a spark for his high school wrestling team and lifts his spirits. That is, of course, until life intercedes once again.

In better times, this might be the kind of movie that people would stay away from due to the fact that is is so down-to-earth in its portrayal of life's struggles. In tough times, though, "Win Win" really resonates on a personal level. The struggles of life are not black-and-white, but full of shades of grey and ambiguity.

Also, while the film is well-acted as a general rule, Giamatti's performance is especially moving. Giammatti is one of the great character actors of our time and never fails to shine on the big screen. There's no one who can match his style of acting in terms of combining over-the-top physical/verbal acting with dramatic intensity.

About the only thing that prevents this movie from being a true classic is that the climax doesn't necessarily live up to the build-up. Don't worry, though, as the rich characters and believable circumstances are more than enough to provide compelling drama and entertainment.

very sweet and very funny film

[michael-mccann-858-974258 · 8/10 · 11 March 2011]

Actor-turned-director Tom McCarthy has put together a fine third feature in Win Win. All of his films tend to have compact stories that are small in scope but feature a very focused lens on the lives of their characters.

One might say that Win Win is perhaps his most conventional dramedy, as it features a normal suburban family with normal suburban problems. Paul Giamatti is "Mike Flaherty" an attorney with a small practice who's also a high school wrestling coach. He's not perfect, but he's doing the best he can. He and his wife "Jackie" (the always wonderful Amy Ryan) are busy raising two kids and leading their quiet life. But when Mike gives into temptation to become the guardian of one his elderly clients (for the $1,500 a month commission) things get to be a little more complicated. The client's grandson, a troubled 16-year-old kid named "Kyle" (Alex Shaffer) comes to stay with his grandfather while his mother goes through her drug treatment. Since his grandfather is living in a retirement home, Kyle ends up staying with Mike and Jackie, who feel compelled to help the kid out.

The film is funny and sweet and paints a really true-to-life portrait of its characters. No one is purely good or purely bad, they're all just human. They make mistakes, whether large or small, and they try to make up for them. In that way, the film will strike a nice honest chord with most of its audience.

Paul Giamatti is great in this, giving a much lower key performance than some of his previous works like American Splendor, Sideways, and even "John Adams." He falls into the suburban dad character very well and wears the character's skin rather nicely. Amy Ryan is always a joy to see on-screen, but I was a bit disappointed that her character was a little one-dimensional, depicting her primarily as a stay at home housewife and mother. Bobby Cannavale and Jeffrey Tambor are fun to watch as well, but serve generally to provide comedic relief (which they do in abundance) and their characters aren't nearly as well painted as Mike or Kyle.

Alex Shaffer, in his very first role, holds his own among some heavyweight actors. I thought some of the emotional scenes were a bit rough for him, but if he decides to continue his acting, more experience will only help to mature his instincts and abilities. Now, outside those heavily emotional scenes, Shaffer is great. His sort of deadpan, monotone delivery works very well for the character.

Kudos go out to Thomas McCarthy's directorial style and talent. He's put together three solid films, all of them equally enjoyable and smart. With Win Win, he's proved he can move past the "loner" archetype of his previous films and move into something more family oriented and encompassing of more characters (although when I think about it The Station Agent had that type of familial quality to it in the friends that Finbar meets). Either way, McCarthy is batting 1.000 in my book and has yet to have a misstep.

When the film releases on March 18th, I'd highly recommend people go and check it out. It's a very sweet and very funny film that deserves the large audience it hopefully will get.

"Win Win" is a Winner!

[mandy-1 · 9/10 · 17 April 2011]

Like enduring friendships, "Win Win" grows and deepens as it unfolds. The characters become more dear, the laughs get louder and the plot thickens.

Writer, director Thomas McCarthy (who also wrote and directed one of my all time favorite movies, "The Station Agent") has created a group of characters as strange and wonderful as real people, but with better lines. Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan are perfect. New-comer Alex Shaffer as a troubled teen wrestler creates a whole new kind of cool. Bobby Cannavale (also from "The Station Agent) sparkles in every scene.

If you want to see writing, directing and acting at it's best go see "Win Win." You'll win too.

Intriguing dilemmas and a splash of humour

[Jazzist-H-Crisp · 8/10 · 8 June 2011]

The story-line of Win Win brings difficult and realistic moral issues before us, which engage our interest and challenge our sympathies. But the film is not a ponderous work of moral theory, fortunately. Instead, it has many humorous moments which keep the tone quite light, even as the film raises some darker problems.

The first dilemma concerns the subterfuge that lawyer Mike Flaherty (Paul Giametti) employs to win the maintenance award for looking after his elderly client Leo who suffers from Alzheimers disease. The dilemma is not so much his (he needs the money too badly and he has a family to provide for), as ours - should we sympathise or not? Mike is a lawyer, yet he deceives the court and thus breaks the law. Yet, at the same time, Leo does not really lose out because the home that Mike puts him in is very comfortable. In a way, Mike's deceit is a win-win solution that solves Mike's financial problems and also provides proper care for Leo. But surely deceit cannot be condoned? Or can it? While we are still dealing with that issue, an entirely different one looms up and takes over the story. Leo's grand-son arrives, looking for his grand-father, Leo, who is now in the care home. Not only does this plot development add a lot of tension (because Mike's deceit is in danger of being exposed), it also adds further complications on the moral front. The first is, should Mike tell Kyle the truth, or is it better to try and help Kyle personally while leaving him in the dark? Should we really expect Mike to confess, when the result will be disastrous for so many people and achieve very little, apart from establishing the truth about Leo's transfer to the care home? Once again, we are just beginning to settle one problem when another arrives to add further complications, this time in the shape of Kyle's mother, Leo's daughter, who has never shown any interest in her father, but now shows a mercenary interest in his state of dependency.

I really enjoyed this film. There is a lightness in the telling of the story, which makes the whole experience a pleasure, but it is a story with some difficult issues to set before us, issues such as the care of the elderly and the rights of birth-parents over foster-parents, which give us food for thought. Above all, however, the film is very well acted and the characters are brought to life very effectively, persuading us of the reality of the issues which it raises, but also coaxing us to temper our judgment of our fellow human beings. The film reminds us that life is rarely as clear-cut as our stern guilty-or-innocent judgments would require.

Win Win was not a lose lose

[maria-m-larson · 8/10 · 19 February 2011]

I could say its a wrestling movie but that would be a very big oversight on my part and this movie deserves more then that. You wouldn't call The Fighter just a boxing movie would you. I am no professional movie reviewer but I tell it like I see it. When I say a movie is good to me that means it made me feel something and made me think. This movie did just that ... I laughed and I wouldn't call it a comedy ... I felt frustrated much like the main character Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) who is an Attorney by day and by late afternoon he is a high school wrestling coach who's team is for a lack of a better word sucks. I didn't cry but I could say that I did get a warm happy feeling without all the sap. This Attorney, Father, Coach, and Husband (Mike) who is trying to keep it all together stumbles into another family very different from his own. An old man who is slowly losing his mind, his grandson who wrestles more then he talks, and his daughter who believes she is owed her inheritance. Mike is just trying to do right for his family and as a man. Life is not always simple and some times we need to make those hard decisions ... but if you make those decisions from the right intentions and you might find that in the end it all works its way out. Good movie that deals with real life situations of relatable characters. Well written, well directed, and well performed so over all a Win Win on my list.

An All Too Winning Formula

[jadepietro · 6/10 · 17 April 2011]

Name the film: A well-to-do Southern family takes in a homeless teenager. His talent in football and the love of a family lead him to a better life in this heartwarming and uplifting crowd-pleaser. ( I hope I didn't blindside you with the obviousness of my clues.) Now, let's follow that same formula with a few changes in tow. Name this film: A well-to-do ( middle class ) Southern ( New Jersey ) family takes in a homeless teenager. His talent in football ( wrestling ) and the love of a family lead him to a better life in this heartwarming and uplifting crowd-pleaser. The answer: Win Win, the latest independent film written and directed by Thomas McCarthy ( The Visitor, The Station Agent ) follows the Flaherty family, an average all-American family who are trying to eke out a living in today's economy. Mike ( Paul Giamatti ) is a small town lawyer and Jackie ( Amy Ryan ) is his loyal loving wife. Also part of this slightly clichéd family unit are two cute little girls, but, alas, no dog! Mike finds an aimless young boy at the doorstep of an elderly client and gives him a place to stay. The boy, Kyle, is the silent brooding type, a loner who has had a hard-knock life. Escaping his drug-addicted mother ( Melanie Lynskey ), he begins to befriend this family and build a more positive self-image through his wrestling skills. Oh, yes, Mike is also the high school wrestling coach, hence the title. This low key film has a very slow start, introducing minor characters as comic relief which does nothing to advance the storyline. It's not until the character of Kyle enters the film that the plot begins to cohere. That bond is due to the fine acting of newcomer Alex Shaffer who is perfectly cast in that role and Giamatti as his adoptive father figure. In fact, all of the acting has a genuine honest sincerity that helps the film tremendously avoid the pitfalls of sentimentality and mawkishness. McCarthy wisely sidesteps those obvious moments with his well written screenplay, giving the film's characters depth and nuance with his artful way with conversational dialogue. Even though its familiar plot structure follows the tried-and-true win-winning formula of other feel-good films of this genre, Win Win is an entertaining enough film that benefits from its talented cast and its interesting characters. And when you tally it all up, that still makes it a win-win situation for any moviegoer. GRADE: B-

It's a okay indie flick but a bit dull and way too predictable

[KineticSeoul · 5/10 · 3 August 2012]

This is a nice film with likable characters trying to do the right thing. The only problem is the characters starts to become really predictable really quickly. The plot is about a attorney Mike Flaherty(Paul Giamatti) that works double jobs, the other one is as a wrestling coach. But the is struggling with money issues and family. And when it comes to money issues, family usually go hand in hand. Mike Flaherty decides to take guardianship of a old guy named Leo that suffers from dementia and in return will get paid $1500 a month. But the extra baggage Mike didn't expect is Kyle(Alex Shaffer) who is Leo's grandson. And Kyle ends up spending a lot of time with Mike's family and gives Mike a motivation in life since he turns out to be a prodigy when it comes to wrestling. And Mike shows Kyle affection. So it's win win for both sides. The thing is the build up for this movie just seems so darn forced sometimes and doesn't come off natural. This movie slightly reminded me of "The Blind Side" but just didn't move the heartstrings as much. Cause almost everything about this movie just seem drastic. I however like how it didn't try to sugarcoat everything, which would have took away the main positive element going for this flick. If this movie had a more natural and touching build up it would have left an impact and would have been a real indie gem. It just has a slow dull beginning and only gets slightly emotional and entertaining later on but everything is just so darn predictable in almost every way.

5/10

Made-for-TV Movie

[fordraff · 14 May 2011]

This film is nothing more than a Made-for-TV type movie. I went to see it because it played at the local art house; in fact, the movie seems to be playing mainly in art houses across the country. Does the presence of Paul Giamatti automatically result in a film's being shown in art houses? An art house release led me to expect something far superior to this.

At any event, within ten or fifteen minutes, you will know the entire plot because you have seen this film hundreds of times previously. Disturbed teenage boy finds a new life with his foster parents (so to speak) and his participation in sports to live happily ever after. Dad also learns a lesson. There is barely an iota of plausibility in this film. And the actors are all better qualified to handle the parts than the parts demand of them. A waste of talented actors. A waste of my time and admission fee.

Jon Bon Jovi

[nogodnomasters · 10/10 · 26 June 2019]

** Contains midpoint plot synopsis**

The movie lures you into a false sense of security as it shows a normal middle class New Jersey family all while playing an acoustical "indy" guitar. Paul Giamatti plays a lawyer who isn't doing too well financially (apparently he doesn't handle bankruptcies). He has an aged rich client Leo Poplar, (Burt Young, Pauly from Rocky) who is in the early stages of dementia. Unable to contact Leo's daughter in Ohio (we later find out she was in rehab) he goes to court and gets appointed as his legal guardian/caretaker. The state was going to place Leo in a care facility, however Giamatti convinces the judge Leo would be better at home and agrees to take care of Leo at home...for the $1500 a month fee. As it turns out Giamatti was dishonest (not a lawyer!) and puts Leo in a home anyway, telling him it was the judge's orders.

As fate would have it, Kyle, Leo's 16 year old grandson from Ohio is sitting on his doorstop as Paul drives by. He takes Kyle in temporarily. Paul also coaches the HS wrestling team which doesn't win matches. As it turns out Kyle is a ringer. When Kyle's hated mother shows up, she throws a wrench into the works as Paul's deception has become uncovered.

The characters in the story are realistic, they all have flaws that must be dealt with. When they have an opportunity to redeem themselves, like a good Disney flick they all take it. As a family film, I have to question some things. The movie drops the F bomb in stages. Kyle runs away from home in Ohio and takes the bus. Kyle at one point pushes his mother down on a bed and holds her down in anger.

The acting was great. Alex Schaffer did a good job as Kyle. Heart warming and funny at times. Highly recommend.

Money is too tight to mention

[imseeg · 8/10 · 14 March 2018]

What do you do when you are a hard working citizen and you are running into money troubles? You bent the law a little. That is what Paul Giamatti tried in his role as a struggling lawyer who is hyperventilating over his money problems. This movie depicts with humor a morality question: do you care for yourself first and profit from the innocence of vulnerable people? Or do you keep caring for others too when you get into trouble yourself? Or can everybody prosper? Like in a win win situation....

'Win Win" has got many real funny moments and has a warmth to it that is common to director Tom McCarthy's work. (The Visitor). The acting by Paul Giamatti and Bobby Cannavale is spot on and hilariously funny at times. And because of the humor any conflict in the movie doesnt feel heavy. Uplifting, caring, funny and human. Those are the words that come to mind watching Paul Giamatti struggling in "Win Win".

It is certainly not a walt disney family film, but young, old and everything in between will find recognition in this story about 2 families who accidentally learn to take care of each other the best way they can. "Win Win" put a smile on my face and it gives me goosebumps writing about it, because the characters are so human and loveable. Lovely, funny picture about real life family issues. Truly a subtle gem!

Two Wins Don't Make a Wight

[thesar-2 · 7/10 · 7 January 2012]

Ever since Juno and Little Miss Sunshine splashed onto the screen and spotlighted big-word-of-mouth indie hits, every small group wants a piece of the pie. Win Win had that feel. Only, as good as it was, it wasn't great.

I missed seeing this in 2011, and though it wouldn't have cracked my top ten list, it was still a watchable release.

The ever-somewhat lovable, everyday man Paul Giamatti plays a down on his luck/clients attorney Mike who, in order to get some cash, pushes for the care of wealthy Leo (Burt "anything but" Young) only it comes with a price: a teen wrestler Kyle and his asinine mother, Cindy (Melanie Lynskey.)

It's one of those "lying" stories where you can pretty much guess when the "lies" start revealing themselves. Mike has to lie about his intentions to his wife and to Kyle, a runaway who has potential in pro-wrestling. And Mike has to grow, as predicted.

The movie, while good and contains some decent dialogue, humor and realism, is really just…there. Not bad, by most means, but not powerful. Overall, I liked watching the realistic journey of this man and his kooky counterparts. It's a watch-watch, but not watch-right-now kinda film.

3½/5 Stars.

Giamatti scores another takedown

[arthur_tafero · 7/10 · 7 March 2019]

Doesnt Paul Giamatti ever get tired of selecting good scripts, roles, and films? I have seen almost every film he has made, and I cannot remember one bad one in the substatial lot. Win, Win is another in his long line of successes. With a fine supporting cast, including Bobby Cannavale, who made his bones in "Boardwalk Empire", and Amy Ryan, who is completely believable as a Jersey girl (I have known a few), and especially newcomer Alex Shaffer, who has great potential. This film has it all, starts slowly, and then gradually grabs you in emotoionally until the conclusion. Beautifully conceived, written with authenticity, and acted to perfection by a good cast. Who could ask for more?

Characters with hearts of gold make 'Win Win', a losing proposition!

[Turfseer · 4/10 · 6 November 2011]

Following in the footsteps of his earlier indie 'The Visitor', Writer/Director Thomas McCarthy now proffers up a new unlikely tale, set in the wilds of suburban New Jersey. Paul Giamatti plays another lovable loser by the name of Mike Flaherty, a down on his luck attorney who suffers anxiety attacks due a downtown in his business. He shares an office with an accountant, Vigman, and has a friend, Terry, who's bitter after his wife leaves him for a contractor who's been repairing his home. Despite the fact that he's breaking his back trying to get new clients, Mike still has time to work as a part-time wrestling coach at the local high school, along with Vigman, and later Terry, who still has an interest in the sport as he used to be a below average wrestler as a teenager.

The basic plot seems a bit confusing. I didn't understand why Mike agrees to assume the guardianship of part-dementia stricken Leo and then promptly puts him in a nursing home against his wishes. He could have kept his $1500 fee and simply allowed Leo to stay in his home with round-the-clock help (it's established that Leo is well off and can afford home care—in fact he already has help at the time Mike takes his case). Most of Mike's work as a guardian would have involved overseeing Leo's finances—not having to run over to the home all the time which is Mike's justification for putting him in the home in the first place. Leo did seem like an interesting character but Burt Young has little to do, playing a part that is clearly underwritten.

Apparently, Mike's secretary's investigatory skills aren't very polished, as she's unable to find out any information about Leo's family. Lo and behold, Leo's missing grandson, Kyle, suddenly shows up on his grandfather's doorstep one fine day and he's a champion high school wrestling student to boot! Part of the problem here is that McCarthy can't decide whether this is a comedy or drama. The result really is an uneven hybrid. A good part of the Act 2 shenanigans are just that: shenanigans! The big joke is that the student wrestlers are completely inept and we're supposed to laugh at them, even after Kyle comes on board and restores a modicum of dignity to the team. Aside from Kyle, the next best player is Stemler (Kyle's buddy), who wins a match, not by pinning his opponent, but escaping his clutches, so that the clock runs out! The three coaches also happen to be thoroughly obnoxious in their fanatic love of the game; exhorting the hapless students through the use of choice expletives (and in the case of Mike) slapping Kyle in the face (at the boy's behest), in order to motivate him to greater heights on the gym floor.

'Win, Win' becomes slightly more interesting at the midpoint, when Kyle's mother finally appears, lawyers up and demands to take Leo and Kyle back home with her as well as demanding Mike's $1500 guardianship commission. The way all this plays out is fairly predictable. Mike and his wife Jackie basically end up bonding with Kyle, despite the kid's chequered past which includes a juvenile rap for stealing a car. When Kyle finds out that Mike is "just as bad as his mother", after it's revealed that he put Leo in a nursing home against both the grandfather's and the court's wishes, Kyle disappears, resulting in a frantic search, initiated by Mike and Jackie. All's well that ends well when Kyle is found at Leo's place, a series of apologies are made by Mike and Jackie reassures the boy that he's loved by them. An even more sentimental (and hence happy ending) is effected when Kyle's drug addict mom changes her mind about allowing 'good kid' Kyle to remain with the Flahertys. The win-win proposition comes into play when Kyle's mom gets to keep the $1500 and Mike doesn't have to reveal to the court that he's guilty of fraud. Mike's only 'punishment' is that he's forced to work part-time as a bartender in order to make up for the money he's agreed to send to the drug addict mom.

Giamatti does well in the role of Mike despite the fact that he's not a very sympathetic character. Even less sympathetic is Terry who has a chip on his shoulder after his wife has an affair with that contractor. I'm not sure what Vigman is doing in the script and newcomer Alex Shaffer (a former successful high school wrestler) feels like he needed quite a bit of coaching (for the acting part—not the wrestling) to play the part of Kyle. Only Amy Ryan really succeeds amongst the supporting players as she does well in depicting the skepticism (and later the acceptance) of the young interloper in her household.

Like in his previous indie, 'The Visitor', McCarthy's characters tend to veer toward the melodramatic. There is a need for a slightly flawed hero but the antagonist is decidedly evil. In the end, Win Win, is pretty much a losing proposition, as it sacrifices verisimilitude for the easy happy ending, with characters who can't rise above their hearts of gold.

Absolute Artifice From Frame One

[JoshuaDysart · 4/10 · 10 April 2011]

This film is exactly the thing I rail most against in cinema. More so than crappy low-budget films, or bad genre films or obviously tinny dialog... it's this kind of thing. Where obviously capable, talented people pretend to be artistically ambitious by tackling very real lives and very human situations, then turn around and create the most fake, trite, saturated approximation of life you can imagine. This is what I call the Sundance Factor. Movies that claim to be about life but are really less true in their minutia than a "Lord of the Rings" movie. Every glance, every human interaction, every performance, every depiction of struggle, misunderstanding and realization, every character is acted up, tarted out, over cooked and absolutely full of crap. Which would be alright if it was funny. But it's not funny. Not at all, despite the terribly stereo-typical, shallow, cringe-inducing, comic-relief character played by Bobby Cannavale.

If you as a filmmaker are going to have this much of a disregard for the way people really act, speak and think then for god's sake, have someone in your film pull a gun out so at least I won't be bored.

Suck Suck.

life's complications

[LunarPoise · 8/10 · 1 February 2015]

A small-town lawyer fallen on hard times sees a way to exploit a rich client and help his family out of a financial hole. The plan works well till the client's grandson turns up, and then begins a process of unravelling and recrimination. Paul Giamatti is perfectly cast as the well-intentioned lawyer, a good man in an indifferent universe trying to keep it all together. Alex Shaffer absolutely nails the taciturn teenage Kyle. The offspring of a drug-addicted single mother, he gives off that world weariness and flinty edge that emanates from a child that has seen too much too young. The script is full of finely observed little moments, touches of pathos and humour, dotted with those little reversals that life lobs at us like hand grenades. When Kyle's mother shows up suddenly with legal representation, you can feel the knots in your stomach beginning to form. Genuine in its intentions, and stripped of sentimentality, this is a rewarding, entertaining film with no discordant notes.

I will see just about anything with Paul Giamatti in it

[SDAim · 8/10 · 23 July 2012]

In an effort to clear out our DVR in time for a gazillion hours of Summer Olympics coming up, my husband and I went on an Indie film bender and watched about 10 flicks that we had recorded. Out of all of them, only two really stood out -- Win Win and In a Better World, a small Danish film. I had resisted seeing Win Win in the theater, honestly, because it didn't look like something I'd like based on the trailer. I thought it was going to be one of those feel-good, high school sports movies with the troubled kid and the coach who turns everything around and everyone goes home happy. This had many more layers to it, as all of the other positive reviews posted here will attest to.

My big takeaway from this film is that I really trust Paul Giamatti's choices of roles, and until he proves otherwise, I will see him in anything he does. I am also amazed at the range of characters he can play, and his ability to make a huge difference in a film even if the part he plays doesn't seem that significant in terms of screen time. Win Win was truly a vehicle for him (as the film Barney's Version was a year or so ago), and he carries it with no problem. Great supporting performances here by Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale (who I currently love hating in Nurse Jackie), Jeffrey Tambor, and newcomer Alex Schaffer as the kid.

WTFIT (Whatever it Takes)

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 28 March 2011]

Greetings again from the darkness. Thomas McCarthy's first two directorial outings were excellent: The Station Agent, The Visitor. This is his third and it seems clear the first two were not flukes. This is a filmmaker who knows what he is doing and who is attracted to real people in real life situations. All three films feature the reactions and adaptations when strangers collide and a family-like atmosphere is created.

In this film, Paul Giamatti plays a struggling lawyer who also coaches the local high school wrestling team. Times are tough for Giamatti's practice and when he stumbles on a chance for some "easy" money, his wrestling match with his conscience doesn't last too long ... even though it is not in the best interest of his client. By taking the easy way out, his elderly client is moved out of his home and into a long-term care facility. Giamatti knows his decision isn't right, so he hides it from his wife, the talented Amy Ryan. Their home life seems very typical until the Giamatti decision leads to further complications ... the client's long-lost grandson shows up.

The kid turns out to be quite perceptive and fits right into the Giamatti/Ryan family ... especially when it is discovered that he is a top notch high school wrestler. Newcomer Alex Shaffer was cast because of his wrestling skills, but shines in the film due to his ability to come across as a real kid in real world conflicts. There are times his actions and decisions are more adult than the adults.

The grandfather client is played by Burt Young, who was Paulie in the Rocky movies. Giamatti's best friend is played by Bobby Cannavale, whose character is going through marital hell, and whose lively spirit and outspoken tendencies provide many of the laughs in the film. Cannavale shines in this film, much as he did as the slightly desperate vendor in The Station Agent.

Things are going along pretty well for the new "family" until Shaffer's mother (Melanie Lynskey) is released from the drug clinic and she shows up to re-claim her son and her share of grandpa's wealth. She and her attorney (another nice role for Margo Martindale) expose Giamatti's earlier unethical decision and force his hand. The strength of the family is severely tested.

What I really like about this and the two previous McCarthy films are that no real Hollywood tricks are used. He hits situations head-on with realistic levels of comedy and uncomfortable people who are just trying to get along in life. In Win Win, the stellar cast brings life to these characters and draw us right in to their attempts at conflict resolution. Even though the theme is not too far removed from that of The Blind Side, Mr. McCarthy provides us with characters who could be from our own lives or even our own families. That makes all the difference.

You can't lose if you watch this film!

[estebangonzalez10 · 9/10 · 2 March 2012]

¨I wanna go to Ohio and beat the crap out of his mom. ¨ Thomas McCarthy has once again directed a successful family drama (slash comedy, slash sport film) that will be remembered for its heartwarming characters. McCarthy has a tendency for writing and directing these kind of movies with memorable, yet ordinary characters who aren't perfect, but have something special about them in some way or another. He did it in his previous films with The Station Agent and The Visitors where we have very silent characters with flaws, but who discover something good about themselves through the new and unconventional relations they make. I would say that the heart of his films don't rely so much on the characters that he introduces, but in the interactions between them, and that is why the story and characters flourish in his stories. Win Win is no exception and perhaps this is an even improved film over its predecessors because we have much more different interactions between the characters, and you can even include the sport element that makes this movie all that more attractive. Of course McCarthy can't make a good film if he doesn't have a good cast because the heart of his films revolve around these characters and how they interact with each other. In Win Win he has just that: an excellent cast, beginning with a superb leading performance from Paul Giamatti, and a great supporting cast which include the always reliable Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Bobby Cannavale, Melanie Lynskey, and Burt Young, plus a memorable performance from newcomer Alex Shaffer who is the heart and motor of the story. I really didn't get that much into the story until he showed up, and he really changes the pace and momentum of the movie once his character is introduced some fifteen minutes into the film. The mystery about his past and the way he interacts with Giamatti and Ryan are the soul of this drama, while Cannavale and Tambor's performance work more as the comedic relief.

Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a lawyer and father of two young daughters living with his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) in a New Jersey superb. Mike is trying to survive in his private practice, but has been experiencing some financial difficulties which have been putting him through some anxiety attacks. He also works as a High School wrestling coach during his free time since he once used to be a decent wrestler himself. He trains the kids along with his assistant Stephen (Jeffrey Tambor), who also shares an office with him in his practice. Due to his attacks the doctor has recommended Mike to run every morning so he does so alone or along his longtime high school buddy Terry (Bobby Cannavale). An opportunity presents itself for Mike to make easy money with a client of his named Leo (Burt Young). Leo is old and suffering from dementia, but since his daughter can't be reached he is on his own and the State is worried about his wellbeing. Leo has plenty of money, but doesn't have anyone to take care of him, so Mike decides to become his legal guardian. He does it for the money since the guardian will receive 1500 dollars a month, but sends him to a house care facility once he becomes the guardian. One day an unexpected visitor shows up at Leo's house: his grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) and Mike takes him to visit his grandfather. Kyle is a quiet kid who has run away from his home. Mike and Jackie take the kid in for a few days and they discover he has a great talent: he is a wrestler, so Mike signs him up with his team and believes he has received a double blessing with this whole Leo situation. The problem ensues when Kyle's mother shows up in town and Mike's past begins to haunt him.

I warn you don't give up on this movie due to its very slow start because it's worth the wait. The movie really doesn't reach full gear until about twenty minutes into the film when Kyle shows up. McCarthy's films tend to suffer from this slow opening because it takes time to set up the characters in the way he does. These characters are all really well developed and not even the secondary characters are one dimensional so it does take some time to set up the characters and situations, but once that is dealt with and we begin seeing these characters interact with each other the movie does pay off and pick off in an extraordinary fashion. Who would've thought wrestling could be so interesting? McCarthy really makes it so, but does it by leaving it as a side plot and not focusing entirely on the sport. The relationship between Giamatti and Shaffer are essentially the heart of this story and winning or losing becomes something secondary like it is in real life. It's this inner conflict that Giamatti has to deal with and the way he relates and begins to identify with the boy that make this such a fascinating and heartwarming film. McCarthy never tries to play with our emotions, and every single scene feels authentic and real. We are dealing with real characters, who aren't perfect and perhaps may have done some stupid or unethical things, but they try to search for some sort of redemption in order to find forgiveness. This is truly one of McCarthy's best films to date and a wonderful small movie you will want to see.

http://estebueno10.blogspot.com

Unexpected hit for me; fun, charming, heartwarming and felt very real

[juneebuggy · 7/10 · 31 January 2016]

This turned out to be a more than decent dramedy. I didn't know anything about it going in but based on the rave reviews decided to give it a shot. I have to be honest I'm not a fan of Paul Giamatti, I appreciate that's he's a great actor but for (whatever) reason I've never enjoyed him in a movie until now.

He was just superb in this and even though he was involved in some questionable business dealings you were still on his side the whole time. The entire cast was fantastic here, really rich (and real) characters) working through an entertaining and very human feeling story. The films pacing was perfect too with a tone that goes seamlessly from dramatic to comedic.

The story follows a struggling small time lawyer and moon-lighting wrestling coach who makes an unethical decision to earn some extra money by becoming the guardian to an elderly client (Burt Young) suffering from dementia. Unexpectedly this decision also soon results in Mike having to care for the old mans troubled grandson when he shows up needing a place to stay. Kyle just happens to be a brilliant wrestler though, and in need of a real break in the stable family department. Everything is win-win until Kyle's mother turns up, fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything. 1/3/16