The Most Underrated Movie of 2011 So Far

Rating: 9/10 (8 May 2011)

"They don't know who you are" is a line delivered in WIN WIN by Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) directed by Thomas McCarthy to his star high school wrestler Kyle (Alex Shaffer). A very apropos line because audiences across America don't know who Alex is yet, but I'm guessing we'll hear more about him in the years to come.
WIN WIN is an ironic comedy in that what you don't expect to be funny, is. And you've got lots of tender heart-warming moments accompanying the complications.
Mike is an attorney falling on hard times in his business. He moonlights on the side coaching high school wrestling in his small town in New Jersey. Mike's situation is one most of us can identify with: trying to provide for his family but taking a step in desperation that could result in disastrous consequences.
Mike is married to Jackie (Amy Ryan) who is a strong minded, don't-take-any-crap kind of a mom. She is also a nurturer, fiesty, and definitely has an edge to her personality. We see her as the backbone and moral compass for her family, as well as the movie.
The plot goes like this: Mike's client Leo Poplar (Burt Young) has been ordered before a judge to determine if he needs to become a ward of the state and moved into a senior care facility. Upon discovering that a guardian is compensated for the care of Leo and with his family nowhere to be found, Mike decides to capitalize on this opportunity to add some extra income to his family's budget. In accordance with Leo's desires to live at home, the judge declares him under the care of Mike, who directly disobeys the order and moves Leo into a facility. No heavy lifting, right? What throws a wrench into Mike's plans is Leo's grandson Kyle (Alex Shaffer), who has run away from home and come to live with his previously unknown grandfather. Of course, as this is not possible with Leo no longer living there, Mike reluctantly puts Kyle up in his home.
Kyle is the lone-wolf type, who is quiet and aloof, and as the movie progresses we watch him make better decisions. Particularly of note is the relationship he develops with team member Stemler (David W. Thompson), who is quirky and generates some good laughs of his own.
We discover that Kyle was a star wrestler at his former high school and Mike discovers a way to get his Bad-News-Bears wrestling team out of a major losing streak. This is where I believe the first allusion to the movie's title WIN WIN comes in - it is Mike going for the double win of the wrestling team and extra money for his family.
The two assistant coaches provide their own humor. Terry Delfino (Bobby Cannavale) is Mike's best friend, who's wife has just left him and is trying to distract himself. He is overt and a little oblivious at times, and coins the term "manstrength" when referring to the physical power Kyle has. Stephen Vigman (Jeffrey Tambor) is the other coach, who is not exactly welcoming Terry as his new competition.
Enter Kyle's mom Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) - a down-on-her luck, vulnerable woman who has come to the realization that upon being abandoned by her boyfriend, wants her son back and potentially derails Mike's plans. Upon discovering the reason Mike took the guardianship of her father, she brings in counsel to move Leo with her back to Ohio, where she believes he and Kyle belong. Mike proposes she receive the stipend, and leave the boy to finish the school year and wrestling season- our second WIN WIN scenario. Will her motives and ultimate choice between these be the best for herself, Mike, Kyle, or everyone? The ending no doubt will receive conflicting opinions from movie watchers. I believe what ends up happened is the best possible outcome, at least in that moment.
A good portion of the movie's humor comes from the reactions of characters to lines given, one specifically is when Kyle asks Mike to slap him in the head to get him psyched up for his wrestling match. This is followed by a look of "what are you doing?" from Jackie, and the Mike's returning smile telling her "it's all good" The subtleties and expressions are priceless, as could be expected with a cast of this caliber.
The bond formed between Kyle and Jackie is strong and believable, as we begin to identify with Jackie's character really taking Kyle on as her son. At one point when Kyle is particularly upset she says "We love you. I just want you to know that" I enjoyed watching Mike & Jackie as they carried on like a typical married couple, with one person trying to get away with something by downplaying it and the other calling them right out. Classic.
We come to care about all of the characters in the movie, as we see that they are all just trying to do their best with their current circumstances, even though feelings get hurt and tempers flare.
The theme of the movie seems to be that no matter how bad things may be, there are always other options, remembering your actions have repercussions reaching farther that you could ever imagine.
When considering your next cinema choice, please remember this movie review of WIN WIN 9/10 stars