Win Win (2011)
Win Win (USA) Directed by Thomas McCarthy Written by Thomas McCarthy Starring Paul Giamatti; Amy Ryan; Bobby Cannavale; Jeffrey Tambor; Burt Young; Melanie Lynskey; Alex Shafffer; Margo Martindale
Win Win is writer/director Thomas McCarthy’s follow up to his timely 2007 critical darling, The Visitor. It is only McCarthy’s second film since his debut, The Station Agent, in 2003. His lack of output as a director is likely correlate to the demand for McCarthy’s skills as an actor. Since 2005 he has been a regular on The Wire, and has appeared in films like Good Night, and Good Luck; Syriana; Mammoth; Duplicity; Fair Game;and Jack Goes Boating. The forty five year old director again brings us a drama grounded in realism, but filled with characters in varying degrees of crisis. Paul Giamatti plays everyman schlub Mike Flaherty, a small time New Jersey attorney and high school wrestling coach. Flaherty’s business is failing, but he is too ashamed to let his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) in on the news. Instead he devises a plan to make some additional income, and along the way comes Kyle, a champion high school wrestler from Ohio, who just might be able to help reverse Flaherty’s flailing team’s fortunes. Solid supporting cast with Ryan, Bobby Cannavale as Mike’s buddy Terry; Jeffrey Tambor as assistant coach, Stephen, Burt Young as client Leo, and a miscast Melanie Lynskey as a drug addicted Mom. The biggest chance taken here though was the selection of non-pro Alex Shaffer, a real life New Jersey High school wrestling champ. It is always a risk using an inexperienced actor amidst a very experienced cast. While Shaffer is noticeably wooden at times, his awkwardness ultimately works for the character, and his obvious ability on the mat helps redeem some of the failings he demonstrates as a thespian. Win Win may not stand up to Vision Quest as a classic high school wrestling film, but Giamatti is his usual solid self, and there are a number of nice moments about family and the importance of love, trust, and fidelity among those in our life circle. Though the lives of those depicted here may be rather small or ordinary in scope, McCarthy recognizes the poignancy to be mined by the day to day struggle to do the right thing.