Before I'd seen it, I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had genuinely enjoyed every moment of a movie. This film, which I went into with virtually no expectations - with the exception of knowing I’d see yet another stellar performance from Paul Giamatti - breathed new life into my affinity for movies and raised the bar for other films I'd see. It’s a drama, it’s a comedy; it’s dysfunctional, but sometimes it just works – it’s life. The script and the acting were so honest that it was hard to not be drawn in almost immediately.
What was most unexpected about this movie was who stood out amongst all of the actors. Although Paul Giamatti was no less wonderful than we’d expect him to be, and Bobby Canavale was hysterical, the one who outshone them all was Alex Shaffer - an unassuming teenage boy in his first major role. What was so remarkable about him was how controlled his acting was. He didn’t overact, but he also didn’t underplay his part. He was just a believable teenager who was not charismatic or funny or particularly handsome. He didn’t say much, and it was hard to really know his character, to know who Kyle was. But there was a mysterious magnetic pull about him. I wanted to love him. I didn’t know whether he was well-intentioned or had sinister motives, but there was a je-ne-sais-quoi about him that just invited love... and that pull was so intriguing because it wasn’t in spite of the awkwardness of it… it seemed to be almost because of it. I’ll spare you a Romantic metaphor here about that. Suffice it to say, the kid won me over within minutes of his introduction and stole the show.
Overall, I’d say this movie is compelling but not a tearjerker. Laced with suspense yet tolerably predictable. There is no sex or nudity. There is no real violence to speak of... and no drugs – although these two things play their role in the lives of the characters. It was simple and complex all at once, and I positively loved it.
A friend of mine, who is much more adept at reviewing films than me, and whose movie reviews you can find here, asked me recently what kind of ending I prefer in a story. I really had to think about this one for a while because, as I told him initially, sometimes I like the loose ends neatly tied at the end with all smiling happy faces... and other times I resent the cookie-cutter, much-too-cliché endings that leave me feeling like I've just wasted my time getting involved in the intrigue of the plot. In Win Win, without getting too spoilery, I can't say everything is tied up nicely and neatly... but it's also not so mangled at the end that you feel unsettled. The movie simply ends exactly the way it should. And maybe that is the magic formula. There's nothing surprising or out-of-place... nothing that suggests anything other than a rational outcome. It might not be perfect, but it's real. It's what you want. It's the way it should be. Maybe a story shouldn't try to end in a way that is jolting to your rational sensibilities. If it doesn't follow the natural flow of the plot, it feels too random. Sometimes shiny, happy, pretty is perfectly in line with the story. Other times, it's just not meant to be that way. Also, in Win Win, the emphasis is much more on the journey than the outcome... a recurring life theme that keeps revealing itself to me... and that is another refreshing bit for me.
Granted, this movie came out more than a year ago now, so this is anything but "news"... but if you haven't had the opportunity to see it, I would definitely encourage a watch. The reasons I loved it might just turn out to be the reasons you don't... or the reasons that you feel indifferent toward it. But when you're watching, be sensitive to what makes this a unique entry in the cinematic annals. There's something to be said for originality in an age where everything has been done the same way over and over again ad nauseum. Win Win might just win you over by being precisely the amount of fresh and different that you need.
I went to see Win Win on your recommendation, and in a rough emotional time, this movie really helped me forget my problems and have a good time. I definitely agree lots of people should see it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, did you know that the boy you were so impressed with is not an actor, but an actual wrestling champion? Yup!
He is! You gotta love that kid. :)
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