Win Win (2011, Thomas McCarthy)

Have you ever watched a film that by the time it ended, you felt like hugging someone?  Well after this film was over, I felt so content that I thought to myself, when was the last time I felt like this after a movie?  I had seen McCarthy's previous film 'The Visitor' and was so blown away; it was one of the most powerful films of the year.  And now there's Win Win, a first rate heart-warming gem that in the wrong hands could have been disastrous.

Thomas McCarthy directs this film with a wonderfully easy pace, featuring Paul Giamati as Mike Flaherty who is excellent here as a fully hearted man who is always trying to do the right thing, but is struggling financially to keep his family a float.  He's a New Jersey attorney who also moonlights as a school wrestling coach of a team that aren't exactly champions. But one day he stumbles upon an idea that might just help his financial problems, earning an extra $1500 a month by being the "guardian" of Leo Poplar (Burt Young) a client of his who is suffering from the early stages of dementia.

One day Mike meets Kyle Timmons (Alex Shaffer) on Leo's doorstep, who wants to live with Leo as he also happens to be Leo's grandson.  It becomes obvious that Kyle has some major issues and never wants to return home to his mom and her crummy boyfriend, as things aren't exactly peaches and cream between the two.  So Mike takes the kid in as well to add on to his unwanted expenses.  However Kyle later wishes to join the wrestling team and Mike soon realizes that he happens to be an ex-champion wrestler of the state of Ohio and now sees Kyle as a Godsend.

We also get Amy Ryan who is just wonderful here as Jackie (Mike's wife) who is determined to find out what happened to Kyle and his mom, or as Jackie puts it she wants to "beat the crap out of his mom".  She is also determined to show Kyle that there is love for him here with her family and are more than willing to help as she knows that Kyle has not had the love shown to him that he deserves.

Amy Ryan give a wonderful warm hearted performance here along with Giamati who is just a joy to watch plus some funny performances from Bobby Cannavale & Jeffrey Tambor.

This is so far my favourite film of 2011 so far and it's the kind of film that will always put a smile on your face and will always make you feel like giving someone a hug.  I urge you to see this film, by any means necessary.

Click here for the trailer

Rating: 4 / 4