"Win Win" Subtle, Yet Effective

It’s rare that a movie will decide to let the characters unfold slowly, without any back story or big emotional breakthrough. As much as I enjoyed “The Help”, there were definitely scenes designed to manipulate the audience into a teary eyed reaction. This is not the case with “Win Win," a movie that never made it past limited release, but is now available to rent.

“Win Win” is about an attorney who makes an unethical and hugely immoral decision with one of his clients early on in the movie in order to keep his business and his family afloat. Paul Giamatti, an experienced character actor, compels the audience to understand and begin to accept Mike Flaherty’s own ambiguity in light of his circumstances. This is a pretty decent guy who made a bad choice in the middle of a tough spot. Who among us can’t relate to that predicament? 

Things get complicated when his client’s grandson appears in town, desperate for a safe place to stay. The director’s decision to keep Kyle’s background unknown throughout the movie, except for a telltale healing black eye and a deadness in his demeanor and expectations relays everything we need to know. Kyle slowly blossoms as he stays with Flaherty’s family, joins the high school wrestling team that Mike coaches and makes new friends. 

Eventually, Kyle’s mother comes to town as well to battle Mike for guardianship of her father and to manipulate her son and his newly founded sense of self. It’s easy to hate this antagonist on principle, but the actress shows us glimpses of her vulnerability as well.

There are small moments that define the characters and their relationships with each other. This is how life works out here, among us, away from big movie proclamations of love and acceptance. There are a hundred things that we do every day that reaffirms to our own people that they are loved — we pack a lunch, change the oil, laugh at a joke. I responded to this movie because it understands and portrays that so well. The audience is engaged when Kyle flashes a quick grin before he takes down an opponent in a wrestling match or when the bottle of syrup is silently passed at the breakfast table between Mike and Kyle.   

The movie concludes with another scene that silently demonstrates that the pendulum swinging between right and wrong has once again found its center. I recommend this funny and surprisingly touching movie.