Watch The Winner

The Winner is a crime-comedy movie from 1996, directed by Alex Cox and starring Rebecca De Mornay, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Richard Edson. It revolves around Philip (D'Onofrio), a hapless man living a dead-end life, facing repeated failures and financial struggles. His only respite is his girlfriend, Nancy (De Mornay), who is the only constant in his otherwise aimless life. But everything changes when a series of events push Philip into a high-stakes game of blackmail and fast money-making.

The story opens with Philip struggling to make ends meet in his mundane life. Despite his efforts, nothing seems to work out for him - he is fired from his job, loses his house, and even his relationship with Nancy becomes strained. One day, while wandering aimlessly, Philip stumbles upon a wallet containing a winning lottery ticket - worth $6 million. Just when he thinks the stars are finally aligned in his favor, he loses the ticket in a freak accident.

Desperate for a stroke of luck, Philip makes an impulsive decision to fake the winning ticket and make millions by blackmailing a shady, wealthy businessman, whose wife he had a fling with in the past. The plan seems foolproof, but things soon spiral out of control when the businessman turns out to be even more cunning than Philip anticipated. What follows is a series of hilarious yet nail-biting events, as Philip finds himself in one precarious situation after another.

The Winner boasts of an excellent cast, led by D'Onofrio, who delivers a standout performance as the lovable, down-on-his-luck protagonist. De Mornay delivers a convincing portrayal of Nancy, Philip's supportive girlfriend, who believes in his good intentions, despite his increasing lies and scheming. Edson, as the businessman's right-hand man, provides excellent comic relief with his witty one-liners and hilarious antics.

The movie's plot is a masterful blend of comedy and crime, which keeps the audience engaged throughout. There are several twists and turns, which keep the story unpredictable and fresh. The movie also explores themes of moral ambiguity, financial struggles, and the lengths people will go to, to get what they want.

The Winner also boasts of impressive technical aspects - the movie's cinematography is crisp and polished, capturing the essence of the various locations, from Philip's dingy apartment to the luxurious mansion of the businessman. The score complements the movie's comedic tone perfectly, with upbeat, cheerful melodies that enhance the viewing experience.

Overall, The Winner is an enjoyable, gripping, and entertaining movie that performs perfectly as a crime-comedy. It boils down to a simple story of an ordinary man who is pushed to his limits and discovers his true potential in the face of adversity. It’s a feel-good movie with memorable characters, excellent performances, and a satisfying conclusion. Despite being a relatively unknown film from the 90s, The Winner is an underrated gem that deserves more recognition.

The Winner is a 1996 thriller. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.