Win Win (2011)

Comedy, Drama, Sport

Director: Thomas McCarthy
Writers: Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tiboni
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor

"In the game of life, you can't lose 'em all."

A feel-good American indie dramedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Mike (Paul Giamatti) is a New Jersey lawyer and a volunteer high school wrestling coach who is struggling to make ends meet. When Kyle, the teenage runaway grandson of one of his clients whom he recently moved into a senior home, shows up at his grandfather's doorstep, Mike's family decides to take him in. After realizing Kyle is a natural wrestling talent, Mike enrolls him at his high school so he can perform on his losing wrestling team. Meanwhile, Mike's "win-win situation" becomes more complicated, when the boy's addict mother shows up, fresh out of rehab.

Co-written and directed by Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, The Visitor) and with a noteworthy supporting cast that includes Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, Bobby Canavale, Melanie Lynskey and Burt Young, Win Win is one of those enjoyable and touching comedy-dramas that's definitely worth a watch.

Plot summary from IMDb: Disheartened attorney Mike Flaherty (Giamatti), 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.

Awards: 7 wins & 19 nominations.
Runtime: 106 min
R