EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re very happy to welcome aboard new (but experienced) writer David Hamilton!
.
“What does it feel like to be so good?” This is what Paul Giamatti’s Mike asks Kyle half way through Win Win. Somebody ought to ask the same question of Tom McCarthy (writer and director of the project), who proves with his third film to be one of the most talented scribes working in movies today.
Win Win follows Mike (Giamatti) who is at his core a loving father and husband. He finds his elder law care practice on the verge of collapse and his school wrestling team to be closer to a special education class then a team. Wanting to keep his financial struggles quiet to not worry his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan), he makes a dishonest decision to become the guardian of a client named Leo (Burt Young) for the state paid paycheck. After getting the gig he ships Leo off to a nursing home but returns to Leo’s home to find his grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), sitting there waiting for Leo. Kyle becomes the catalyst of change that sweeps through everybody’s life in the film and does so simply because he’s a fundamentally good kid.
The best thing about this film is the important characters, each of who are given the moments they need to become real. As simple and as important as that is, it’s something you don’t find in a majority of films today and a reason why Tom McCarthy’s films are must see. He tends to find his inspiration more from European cinema where filmmakers live with the characters and the smaller moments are given more importance. As a result, the impacts of the script resonate within you and as the story twists and turns you are right there in the middle of it, laughing and crying.
The biggest surprise of the film was the ability of newcomer Alex Schaffer who plays Kyle in the film. A talented wrestler in real life he had never acted before. But Tom McCarthy saw that “Je ne sais quoi” in him and cast him in the most important role in the film. As opposed to the unrealistic portrayals of jaded teenagers in recent popular fanfare, Alex’s character Kyle is a breath of fresh air – the teenager that we see all the time, normal and low-key. At the same time, Alex handles the emotional upshifts with as much ease as a seasoned veteran.
Win Win will have you laughing out loud, teasing out a bit more humor than in Tom’s other films and it’s a welcome treat. Among other things, Paul Giammati demonstrates that he is one of the most capable actors working today by a performance that balances serious acting with humor. It’s always a pleasure to see Bobby Cannavale get the laughs as well. McCarthy mentioned at his Q&A that humor is found in our daily lives, and one cannot separate real life and humor, so having it in film adds to its authenticity. And because of Tom’s carefully constructed authenticity, the film effortlessly absorbs you into the story.
No, there aren’t big explosions and mind numbing special effects, but what you find in Win Win is much bigger, better, and much more human. Check it out.
