Win Win (2011) R

I was lucky enough to catch this film while out of town. Films like these (independent films) just simply aren't available in my area. It's a shame, but it's a sad fact of life. A lot of the best films are often never seen in theaters by anyone. This film centers around Paul Giamatti's (Sideways, Cinderella Man) character. Giamatti plays Mike Flaherty, a weathered New Jersey attorney and varsity wrestling coach. Work has been extremely slow for Mike, and the only available cases are absurd and not lucrative. His relationship with his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) is strong, but has seen better days. Mike neglects to tell Jackie about their financial problems, which may come back to bite him.

Mike often spends time with his best friend Terry (Bobby Cannavale). Terry is fresh off a divorce, and has problems of his own. They often blow off steam by jogging/running together. Mike is also good friends his with assistant coach Stephen (Jeffrey Tambor). Stephen knows very little about wrestling, which might be why the team hasn't won a match in a few years. Cannavale (The Other Guys, The Station Agent) is the comic relief in this film, and oh boy does he deliver. It's one line after another. He's absolutely hysterical. Tambor (The Hangover, There's Something About Mary) uses dry humor to get laughs, which comes as no surprise if you've ever seen Arrested Development.

Mike finds a client in the elderly Leo Poplar. Leo is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Mike sees an opportunity to make some money in Leo's situation. He decides to become Leo's guardian. However, he sets Leo up at an old-folks home and simply picks up the check every month. He checks in on Leo every now and then, and also peaks in on his house to make sure everything is in order. Not very Christian, if you ask me. One day while checking in on the Leo's house Mike finds a young boy on the front steps. This teenager is smoking a cigarette, has head-phones on and has bleach-blonde hair. He looks like some punk-kid casing the place out at first glance.

After a brief conversation, the boy explains that he's Leo's grandson. His name is Kyle (Alex Shaffer). Shortly after, Mike and Kyle visit Leo. Leo and Kyle have never met before, but they seem to get along just fine. Kyle explains that his mother was sent to a rehabilitation clinic in Ohio, so she sent him to New Jersey to stay with Leo for a while. But Leo is in a care-facility. Mike and Jackie discuss what to do with this kid who has landed in their lap. After Kyle spends a few nights at the Flaherty's, they attempt to send him back to Ohio. But their consciences get the best of them. They decide he can stay, at least until his mother gets out of rehab.

Surprise, surprise, Kyle just happens to be an all-state wrestler. Which is good news for Mike and Stephen. At first Kyle seemed dumb, quiet and rude, but he slowly starts to seem intelligent, very caring and a nice addition to the family. However, Kyle also has a temper problem that Mike and Jackie don't necessarily know about yet. Things seem to be going along great for Mike, but when Kyle's mother Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) shows up unannounced things start to snowball.

Writer/director Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) continues to improve, film after film. You would probably recognize him in such films as 2012, Meet the Parents and Michael Clayton. This is his best work to date. And although this film can be frustrating at times and a little too conventional at others, it's still a great piece of work. It's categorized as a "sports film," but it's anything but. It's a character drama that for the most part feels real. Giamatti demands our attention, especially in a few key scenes near the end of the film. Ryan (Jack Goes Boating, Gone Baby Gone) can do no wrong, and she shines once again. It's also worth noting that this is Alex Shaffer's first film; definitely some potential there. Burt Young (Rocky, Rocky Balboa), Melanie Lynskey (Up in the Air, The Informant!) and Margo Martindale (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Orphan) round out the cast.

This film is funny, sad, entertaining, real and well worth your time. There's a possibility it will hit more theaters later this month. If you don't get a chance to see it, then definitely check it out on DVD, you won't be sorry.
B+