Raging Calf

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2011)

We all saw The Kids are All Right. Many of us enjoyed it and helped it to become a success. What we all haven't seen is Win Win, which is truly unfortunate because it is a more honest though not necessarily better family dramedy than The Kids are All Right. Thomas McCarthy, the writer-director of Win Win, shows one of the best recent examples of realism with his oddly charming screenplay and rich characters. Often enough, quiet movies like this one go unnoticed. I strongly urge people to go see this and not let that happen.
Win Win's plot sounds too complicated for a light comedy. Mike Flaherty (played with tenderness by Paul Giamatti) is happily married to his wife (Amy Ryan) and has two children. This all sounds nice, but his New Jersey law practice is failing. On the verge of losing everything, Mike decides to take a $1,500 monthly commission by becoming the guardian of a client that was recently put into a senior citizen home. As Mike is moving his client's belongings to the home, he meets Kyle (Alex Shaffer in his debut performance), his client's grandson. Kyle has run away from his mother, a drug addict living in Ohio. Mike takes Kyle in and finds that he has a talent for wrestling. As Kyle becomes a bigger part of the family, the Flahertys come closer together and find that they love Kyle.
Win Win boasts a great cast full of well-known Oscar nominees, semi-well-known actors, and complete unknowns. Paul Giamatti is, as usual, a treat to watch as he completely transforms himself into his part. But the real standouts are Amy Ryan, Alex Shaffer, and most importantly Bobby Cannavale. Ryan's supporting performance feels honest and endearing. Shaffer's performance sometimes feel forced, however this is all in character. Shaffer is an actor to watch; we'll see more of him. It is Bobby Cannavale who steals the show as Terry, Mike's divorced and klutzy friend. Cannavale's role demands an actor who can give a fun and sad performance all at once--Cannavale nails it.
Thomas McCarthy as director has done a satisfactory job. Where the great in this film really lies is his extraordinarily ordinary screenplay. In terms of other realistic dramas, we need look no further than Breathless to see what McCarthy has done so right. Jean Luc-Godard immortalized the naive beauty of a regular couple living during the 60's in France. McCarthy has so beautifully humanized an extremely normal family living in America during the recession. Win Win is not particularly well made per se, but does it really need to be when there's such a great screenplay?
Win Win is an actor's film above all else. And yet its story is somehow uplifting and compelling at the same time. The same film could not have come out of another cast or writer. It's a shame this was released in March because it is sure to be overlooked by the Oscars in 2012. Win Win is not a memorable film, but for now, it is a wonderful, small, and quiet film that deserves praise and love from everyone.