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

When the team is on the bus heading to a match, they are going from their school in NJ to another school in NJ. However, the shot of the road they are driving down is in Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY (one of the admitted locations where the movie was filmed). In traveling from one school in NJ to another school in NJ, there would be absolutely no reason to pass through LI.

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Quotes

Mike Flaherty: [to the wrestling team] Now, did you all see what Kyle did the other day? He exploded up, right? Kyle, show the guys what you did.
Kyle: It's kind of my own thing.
Mike Flaherty: Well, can you share it with us?
Kyle: But it's not even a move or anything.
Mike Flaherty: It's okay.
Kyle: All right. Well, I just tell myself that the guy on top's tryin' to take my head and shove it under water and kill me, and if I don't wanna die on bottom, I have to do whatever the fuck it takes to get out.
Stephen Vigman: [breaking a stunned silence] Okay. So the move is "...
[...]

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Connections

Features Divorce Court (1984)

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Soundtracks

Convenience Store Muzaak ESM
Written by Michael Tavera
Courtesy of EZ Source Music

User Reviews

life's complications

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.