Win Win

Name: Win Win
Genre: Comedy
Released: March 18, 2011
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Paul Giamatti

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 85 Ratings

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Win Win

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: March 18, 2011 | R

Starring: Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Paul Giamatti

Summary: Disheartened attorney Mike Flaherty, who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, stumbles across a star athlete through some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family. Just as it looks like he will get a double payday, the boy's mother shows up fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything.Disheartened attorney Mike Flaherty, who moonlights as a high school wrestling coach, stumbles across a star athlete through some questionable business dealings while trying to support his family. Just as it looks like he will get a double payday, the boy's mother shows up fresh from rehab and flat broke, threatening to derail everything. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)… Expand

Director: Thomas McCarthy

Genre(s): Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Ann Hornaday

Mar 24, 2011

In spirit, and sheer joie de vivre, it's everything the movie business should aspire to. Win Win exemplifies movies the way they oughtta be. Read full review

Peter Travers

Mar 10, 2011

This movie wins you over, head and heart, without cheating. It's just about perfect. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Apr 8, 2011

It's an original that plays as if it were based on a novel. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Mar 18, 2011

All these characters make a beautiful mess together, even if McCarthy spends too much time tidying it up. Read full review

Steven Rea

Mar 31, 2011

The same kind of keen, empathetic observations that made "The Station Agent" and "The Visitor" so illuminating are at play here, too. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Mar 17, 2011

Win Win goes a bit soft in places, protecting its characters from serious danger or tough moral reckoning. But the film's niceness is also central to its appeal, because nearly all of the characters are people you enjoy spending time with. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Mar 5, 2011

A disappointing domestic comedy in which all but the audience get what they want. Read full review

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User Reviews

bethesdabob

Mar 25, 2011

This movie is ok--realistic and plausible, but it certainly doesn't deserve stellar reviews. Paul Giamatti is very good and believable as a small town lawyer who isn't really making a go of it, through no fault of his. The other actors are very good too, but there's nothing exceptionalThis movie is ok--realistic and plausible, but it certainly doesn't deserve stellar reviews. Paul Giamatti is very good and believable as a small town lawyer who isn't really making a go of it, through no fault of his. The other actors are very good too, but there's nothing exceptional about this film. I wish I hadn't spent almost $9 to see it; it was worth about half that. Amusing, a good way to fill some time, but not a soul-replenshing, satisfying film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

DC19

Apr 24, 2011

If you are able to see this film, do it. New comer Alex Shaffer acting is quite funny, and Giamati is great as always. By the end of the movie you will feel like you just made some friends that you will never see again.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

hoops2448

Sep 24, 2011

I read a review for Win Win that described it as "soul crushingly clichÃ©d" and I have to admit that the ending plays like the end of a Nicholas Sparks novel (except no one dies......I think). However this may be the only problem with the film.
The story of a small town lawyerI read a review for Win Win that described it as "soul crushingly clichÃ©d" and I have to admit that the ending plays like the end of a Nicholas Sparks novel (except no one dies......I think). However this may be the only problem with the film.
The story of a small town lawyer struggling to get enough work to pay the bills while volunteering as a high school wrestling coach on the side because of his love of the game. The best thing about the film is its view on the world with Paul Giamatti's Mike embracing the fact that everything is not black and white. This is in direct contrast with the boy that Mike and his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan) take in who is Played by Alex Shaffer, who sees things as either good or bad even if he won't admit it to himself. The way Shaffer's Kyle and Mike interact is what makes the film as they both seem to understand one another and grow with Mike regaining some of his innocence and Kyle becoming more cynical with them in a way, meeting in the middle. The learning curve in this film is tempered by some of the best black comedy I have watched in a long time with both Jeffrey Tambor and Bobby Cannavale lightening the mood of a sometimes bleak story. The biggest surprise in this film however is how good Amy Ryan and Alex Shaffer are with them both providing a incredible sense of sincerity in a film based almost entirely around a lie. Overall it is a film that I won't forget in a long time but is spoilt by a Hollywood desire to provide a "happy ending", which is a true shame considering the quality of the rest of the film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Dec 18, 2011

A really good movie that feels so genuine. The interaction between Giammati and the wrestler is highly original, and the wrestler's relationship with his mother is not something we've seen before. I love Amy Ryan, and she nails her part.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wishmaster

Sep 11, 2011

History was taken very well, a little common argument, but moving with a good message, emphasizing the double standard, in short, the cast very well, although on occasions some scenes were a little uncomfortable and that was a little thread of the movie, but overall very good movie :D

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Jan 7, 2019

To Wake Up Without Any Hit.

Win Win McCarthy's grant that comes along with family's business that is to be dealt with, has too much amount to fulfill your needs. This surprising delightful family drama has the heart in its right place, no matter how much obliged it is to the semantics ofTo Wake Up Without Any Hit.

Win Win

McCarthy's grant that comes along with family's business that is to be dealt with, has too much amount to fulfill your needs. This surprising delightful family drama has the heart in its right place, no matter how much obliged it is to the semantics of the structure or how mechanically complex it grows, McCarthy's schemes to keep a broad smile on your face throughout the journey is an appreciative and successful job. With light humor and breezier conversations, it keeps us at ease with warm cozy chemistry of the characters.

McCarthy's world never takes charge, if there is an option directing towards the south it cannot ignore it and this is his ultimate weapon, for even at its peak there is a sense of maturity or immaturity of the characters to keep a socially pleasant expressions on the face and move accordingly. Addition to that, the unexpected turns and revelations in its trajectory is bewildering enough to bite your nails. The stakes might be immensely high, yet its projection of these imprinted plans, no matter how much less-cinematic is subtle enough to poke you off the edge, there is no need for any push.

Giamatti in his middle aged and no so likeable character, is to be rooted for, from his inadequacy to smile or to clear out his intentions, he is a force to be reckoned with. And challenging him equally, lies Ryan's beautiful performance, as an overprotective mother and a fellow companion of Giamatti, she balance the film on a safer scale. The supporting cast like Tambor, Cannavale, Young and Shaffer are holding onto their parts convincingly. Win Win is a big win as a family drama pulsating across a breathtaking match and McCarthy's bluff of not delivering the last end of the track leaves you a bit wiser in the end.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

joelschnick

Aug 24, 2011

I am writing this review because this is the worst movie I have seen in months and I am one of Giamatti's biggest fans so it pains me to say so. To be fair, I went into this movie expecting it to be funny... or at least contain a bit of dark humor and what I got was melo-drama capital C,I am writing this review because this is the worst movie I have seen in months and I am one of Giamatti's biggest fans so it pains me to say so. To be fair, I went into this movie expecting it to be funny... or at least contain a bit of dark humor and what I got was melo-drama capital C, capital R, capital A, capital P. Lastly, bethesdabob wrote "This movie is ok--realistic and plausible, but it certainly doesn't deserve stellar reviews." and then gave it a 10 out of 10. Dementia much?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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