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 has double-crossed comes into his life.

Director:

Tom McCarthy

Writers:

Tom McCarthy (screenplay), Tom McCarthy (story)

Stars:

Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor

5 wins & 22 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
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
Penelope Kindred	...	Stella

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:

double cross | lawyer | wrestling | high school | coach | 

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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 [United States] Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gagnant gagnant

Filming Locations:

Gotham, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$464,420, 25 March 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,179,275, 17 July 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures,Everest Entertainment,Groundswell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS Datasat Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

New Providence High School in New Providence, New Jersey is featured in the film which happens to be co-writer Tom McCarthy's alma mater.

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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

Features Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008)

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Soundtracks

I Am You
Written by Ryan Young and Justin Francis
Performed by Off With Their Heads
Courtesy of No Idea Records

User Reviews

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

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.