At the Movies with Fatwayne

I felt like a winner after I had seen this fine movie. There are many occasions when my picks do not pan out and I wind up feeling like a loser! Guess what? There is no violence, no car chases, very little filthy language (there is some cursing) and no sexually risque scenes. The film earns its “R” rating from the use of the ‘f’ word about five times but never out of context. In short, Win Win delivers the goods and gives us a top notch sports comedy/drama.

Paul Giamatti stars as Mike Flaherty who is a struggling attorney moonlighting as a high school wrestling coach and desperately trying to keep his family and law practice afloat financially. He is a big-hearted man who uncharacteristically makes an immoral decision regarding one on of his elderly clients, Leo Poplar (Burt Young of Rocky fame). His decision will enrich him by about $1500 a month but will cost Leo his freedom. Leo wants to continue living alone in his home but the State wants him cared for in a long term care facility. Mike knows that Leo is capable of living alone but if he has him moved to the facility he can earn the monthly caretaker’s fee. He is not proud of his action and keeps it form his family.

One evening as he and his wife, Jackie (Amy Ryan) are riding by Leo’s house they notice a young man sitting on the steps. Upon questioning the boy, Kyle Timmons (Alex Shaffer) they learn that he is Leo’s grandson from out of state. Kyle is at first secretive about his situation but it soon becomes known that his mom is in drug rehab and he wants to separate himself from her. With no where to go, Kyle reluctantly accepts the Flaherty’s invitation to stay with them until things can be worked out.

Mike and his close friend, Terry Delfino (Bobby Cannavale) find out that Kyle was an exceedingly promising freshman year wrestling standout. Since the team that Mike coaches is somewhat of a looser, he and Terry decide to see if they can get Kyle enrolled in their local high school and ultimately on the wrestling team. Kyle agrees since he loves wrestling and is becoming bored with nothing to do. He hopes to win a scholarship to college as a result of his grappling prowess.

Everything is going just peachy until Kyle’s mother shows up after recently being released from rehab. She comes looking for her share of Leo’s wealth with little or no real concern for Kyle. Her appearance causes a major disruption in the family’s dynamics and forces Mike’s dirty little secret about Kyle’s grandfather, Leo, to the surface.

This is where all of the drama comes into play. Luckily, there is still ample humor to lighten the load. This is a story about loving individuals and the mistakes they make and how they eventually overcome their foibles and get on with their lives. If you like great acting from people who are at the top of their craft you have to love this film.

Rated  -  R  -

Fatwayne’s Rating

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