What I like most about Win Win is the movie’s honesty. Paul Giamatti plays a small-town lawyer who’s struggling financially. He’s a decent man, but the economic downturn threatens his business and his family. In a moment of weakness, Giamatti’s character agrees to become the guardian of a client with dementia who wants to stay in his own house instead of going to a nursing home. Giamatti will receive $1500 a month as the guardian. He figures this is just enough money to keep his law practice and family afloat until the economy recovers. But, as so often happens in Life, everything goes Wrong. After placing his client in a nursing home, Giamatti discovers the client has a grandson he didn’t know about. The client’s daughter is in drug rehab and the boy sought the grandfather he never met. The boy has been abused by his mother’s current boyfriend. Giamatti is also a volunteer coach of the town’s high school wrestling team. It turns out, the boy is a gifted wrestler. But, his mother gets out of rehab and Giamatti is faced with the end of his career because of his actions. Amy Ryan plays Giamatti’s forceful wife. Alex Shaffer plays the troubled teenager. Burt Young, Jeffery Tambor, and Bobby Cannavale round out the solid cast. Make an effort to see this movie! GRADE: A-
This is exactly the kind of small, quirky movie Jackie loves, so I knew we’d see it. We did and I agree with your review. I loved Amy Ryan as the wife and Bobby Cannavale was a hoot as his goofy friend. Only the kid’s mother was given a one dimensional role.
At times I’m convinced there is nothing Giamatti can’t do on screen; first BARNEY’S VERSION and now this.
I send George’s recommendation.
I agree with you on Giamatti, Jeff. I can’t think of a more versatile actor. The kid’s mother role was played by Melanie Lynskey (the psycho neighbor on TWO-AND-HALF MEN).
A very good film-it has stuck with me since I saw it several months ago and that doesn’t always happen. You are on a movie spree, George.
I know this is starting to look like a movie review blog, but it’s just that I wanted to see as many movies as I could before my knee surgery. Now, with the postponement of the surgery, I can see a few more movies. GREEN LANTERN on Friday!
‘second’ – not send
Sorry about that.
Lynskey is yet another New Zealand actress playing American flawlessly.
I thought Lynskey played her druggy-mom role well, Jeff. The script just didn’t give her much to do.
I read a book yesterday. Then I had lunch with friends from out of state. Then we talked to a landscaper. I read some more, then took a nap. I did not see a movie yesterday, this one or any other. I have not been to the theater in several years, and don’t watch then at home any more either. So I cannot comment.
Loved your “non-comment,” Rick!
What was the book, Rick?
I read Jim Thompson’s odd CROPPER’S CABIN yesterday – not one of his best.
Jim Thompson is very uneven writer, Jeff. And most of his work is “odd.”
Well, since you ask, I’m still working on THE HOUSE ON THE POINT, Benjamin Hoff’s “tribute/reboot” to the Hardy Boys THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF. I read the original 1929 version of CLIFF right before POINT, and i’m not so sure POINT measures up… review soon. The book is becoming a bit of a slog. I’m also just starting (3 pages) WHERE THERE’S A WILL, a Nero Wolfe book and the chronologically oldest in the series I’ve yet to read. Unsurprisingly there are many things here I’m eager to get to, but I’m a slow (some might say a thoughtful, a much better word) reader.
I’ve read mixed reviews of Benjamin Hoff’s THE HOUSE ON THE POINT, Rick. Sometimes those homages to past books fall short.
When is the knee surgery now?
I’m penciled in for Saturday, June 25, Patti. But, that’s not a firm date yet.