Watch Win Win

Win Win is a 2010 comedy-drama film that explores the complexities of family, relationships, and the choices we make in life. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy, the film stars Oscar Van Rompay, Halina Reijn, and Leon Voorberg. The story revolves around Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti), a struggling small-town lawyer in New Jersey who is barely making ends meet. He is married to Jackie (Amy Ryan) and they have two young daughters together. Mike is also a high school wrestling coach, but his team is not doing very well, and they are in dire need of a star wrestler.

One day, Mike discovers that one of his elderly clients, Leo Poplar (Burt Young), is suffering from dementia and has no immediate family to take care of him. In order to prevent Leo from being put in a nursing home, Mike agrees to become his legal guardian and place him in an assisted living facility.

In the process, Mike discovers that Leo's grandson, Kyle (Alex Shaffer), is a talented wrestler who has been abandoned by his mother and has come to New Jersey to live with his grandfather. Mike takes Kyle under his wing and convinces him to join his high school wrestling team.

As Kyle begins to excel on the wrestling mat, Mike's life drastically improves. He starts winning more cases in court, his wrestling team starts to thrive, and Leo is happy in his new living situation. However, things take a turn for the worse when Kyle's mother (Melanie Lynskey) suddenly appears, demanding custody of her son.

The film raises poignant questions about family, loyalty, and the moral implications of making difficult choices. It portrays Mike as a well-meaning, yet flawed protagonist, who is forced to confront the consequences of his actions when his decisions come back to haunt him.

The performances in the film are superb, especially that of Paul Giamatti, who brings a great deal of depth and nuance to his portrayal of Mike Flaherty. The film also benefits from the strong chemistry between the actors, particularly the interactions between Giamatti and the young Alex Shaffer, who shows remarkable promise as an actor.

Overall, Win Win is a rich and thought-provoking film that deftly blends elements of comedy and drama. Its exploration of the complexities of human relationships and moral quandaries is both stirring and uplifting, and it leaves a lasting impression on the viewer.