Quick Movie Reviews: Win Win (2011)

Win Win (2011)

Bottomline: Beautiful and wonderful film.

Who Directed This Terrific Movie? Thomas McCarthy, who has also directed two other fabulous films: The Station Agent (2003) and The Visitor (2007).

Where Can I See This Movie? It is in wide release at a theater near you.

Be Sure To See Reviews of: The Station Agent (2003) and The Visitor (2007). Both can be found in the left-hand column. You will find a QMR review and a trailer. Then you must rent them.

QMR Opinion: Until 2003, Thomas McCarthy was primarily known for his acting. I was particularly impressed by his work on the HBO series The Wire. Then in 2003 a little film was released called The Station Agent. Then in 2007, he released a film called The Visitor. Now, he has released Win Win. He is the primary screenwriter on all three and directed all three. And. . .all three are fabulous. They are fabulous because their stories are so accessible; the actors are perfectly cast; and the direction focuses on the humanity of it all. In Win Win, Paul Giamatti plays a down and out attorney, who specializes in elderly care. In his spare time, he coaches a high school wrestling team. As the story plays out, he ends up taking care of an elderly client (Burt Young -- yes, cousin Pauley from the Rocky movies) who, as it turns out, has a grandson (first-timer Alex Shaffer), who is a phenomenal wrestler. As with life, decisions made have consequences are we are mesmerized as we see this human drama unfold. Rounding out the cast are Amy Ryan, who is terrific as Giamatti's wife; and Bobby Cannavale, who brings his own special brand of character as Giamatti's best friend and assistant wrestling coach. Funny, poignant and downright real, this movie carries on a directorial tradition that McCarthy started with The Station Agent. I cannot wait to see what McCarthy does next.