Review of Win It All (2017) by Philip P — 07 Apr 2017

The latest feature-length film from director Joe Swanberg (Digging for Fire, Drinking Buddies) has all the aesthetic packaging and artistic expression fans of Swanberg have come to love, but boasts execution and clarity that may have been lacking in previous entries, making this his best effort yet. Swanberg again teams up with actor and writer Jake Johnson (Digging for Fire, New Girl) to bring to life a compelling take on a familiar story in a pleasantly grainy resolution. Clocking in at just under 90 minutes, Win It All maintains momentum to keep viewers interested until the satisfying pay-off that relieves the beautifully-engineered tension.

A down-on-his-luck gambler can't seem to get his life together as he strings together poor life decisions and pushes away friends and family that are desperate to help. Aptly described by his gambling addiction sponsor as a "six ounce filet of loser", Eddie makes a self-sabotaging deal with a dangerous low-life to babysit a mysterious bag. When Eddie meets a gorgeous girl who seems too good to be true, he is compelled to make a permanent change, but previous decisions have a way of resurfacing, threatening the life that Eddie has built anew.

Swanberg has made a name for himself creating low-budget films that are loosely-scripted and intimate, but at times underwhelming. Viewers familiar with his previous work will notice familiar faces, such as son, Jude Swanberg, and filming locations in Chicago, the city Swanberg has featured as an integral character in several films. Unique to this film though is a clear and defined direction; scenes never linger or feel gratuitous, and each character has enough depth to fulfill their purpose within the story.

The movie isn't all serious. Keegan Michael-Key (Don't Think Twice, Key & Peele) and Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) bring their impeccable comedic timing and improv skills to the table, bouncing back and forth off Jake Johnson in a natural, organic way. Swanberg's situational humor is evident too; he once again successfully portrays bar life as being not-so-glamorous as Eddie awkwardly tries to pull off the buy-a-girl-a-drink power move that works out so flawlessly for the lead in most movies.

The stress and tension is the highlight though, climaxing in a long gambling scene at a card table in a back room. While the excessive and hokey card scenes of James Bond films immediately come to mind, Johnson's reactions to each hand and the audience's knowledge of what is at stake for the likeable character combine to create a brutal, excruciatingly entertaining final act. The ending delivers enough answers to give a sense of closure, but lets the viewer know that the story will go on, as life always does.

Win It All is at times hard to watch, especially for those who relate to Eddie's inability to follow through and continued proclivity for self-sabotage, but the tension is well-balanced and the pressure remains just this side of overwhelming. Swanberg fans and newcomers to the director alike will both enjoy this well-written and well-executed project (which can't be said for many, if any, Swanberg projects of the past).

4/5.

Win It All is now streaming on Netflix.

Philip Penley.