FILM REVIEW: WIN WIN

Michael (Paul Giamatti) and Kyle (Alex Shaffer) in Win Win. 

Wrestling with fate

By John Esther

Powered by the best screenplay in an American film so far this year, the latest film by writer-director Tom McCarthy (Station Agent; The Visitor) tells the story of Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), a family man trying to keep his life from crumbling.

A lawyer in a small New Jersey town, business has been very slow for Michael lately. Unfortunately that will not stop the bills from coming in. Backed into a corner, Michael comes across a scam that takes one his clients, Leo Poplar (Burt Young), out of Leo's house and into an old folk's home. It seems to be a rather safe gamble, but then Leo's grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), unexpectedly shows up, threatening to unravel the plan, the extra money for Michael, and maybe even Michael's license to practice law.

Alex is a troubled child who does not want to go home. As opportunities to send him back are repeatedly thwarted, he slowly becomes more and more a part of Michael's family. Not only does that help Michael's plan out, Kyle is also particularly skilled in an area that may give Michael a win in another part of his life. But then Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) shows up and now Michael could lose everything.

Extremely well-crafted, what makes Win Win a champ of sorts is how it maintains the right tempo throughout the film. Gliding from one scene to the next, there is not a superfluous moment in the entire film.

Moreover, in the right hands, a script like this leads to some golden acting. Not only are the aforementioned actors wonderful, Bobby Cannavale's performance as Michael's best friend, Terry, who has an axe to grind with love, and Amy Ryan's performance as Michael's headstrong wife, Jackie, are superb. Kudos goes to the editor, Tom McArdle, as well.

A crowd pleaser of a higher order, Win Win will not be number one at the box office any weekend or galvanize anyone into political action, but it sure does make for a fine time at the movies.