Review of Win Win (2011) by Pedro H — 08 Sep 2011

This inspiring indie film is director Thomas McCarthy's third feature, whose first two films THE STATION AGENT (2003) and THE VISITOR (2007) have been touchstones for newbie Hollywood indie filmmakers and this time, WIN WIN underpins this theory and is on its way to gain Mr. McCarthy a broader audience and a more auspicious future as a director instead of an actor, I still recall Thomas' ill-fated role in 2012 (2009).

The film is everything one can expect from a sincere dramedy, a solid cast, an entangled plot which merely touches the verge of skepticism (anyone is willing to challenge why our protagonist is still able to earn his monthly commission while put the old man in a sanatorium? who the hack pay for the posh nursing home?), all the dramatic emotion surge is being perfectly balanced and manipulated along with the witty quips and farcical slapsticks.

Continuing director's trademark of surrogate family, in WIN WIN, the story looks like an upgraded version of THE BLIND SIDE (2009) and the situation becomes more tangled when the kindhearted premise is based on a selfish profit, then the quick-fire struggles are much more convincing. The wrestle game is another high-light in the film, quirky but really funny (I do prefer wrestle to football).

Paul Giamatti is never being better and Amy Ryan is wholeheartedly lovable to be cast against her stereotyped tough roles, Bobby Cannavale and the novice Alex Shaffer are amazing as well, plus a typically underrated Melanie Lynskey whose capacity is no less than her co-star in HEAVENLY CREATURES, Kate Winslet. her enactment of a heartless and mercenary mother is able to hold water.

The warmth is pervasive in the film even when it plunges into its darkest hour, WIN WIN is an exquisitely small film harbors a grand ambition to give everyone a feel-good experience to encourage oneself to being a better person, which is a genuine win-win for both filmmakers and its audience.