Paul Giamati is in this. Sometimes that alone is enough for a movie to be good. Not always (Fred Claus) but a good deal of the time (American Splendor). Even when the movie isn't great he usually holds his own and elevates garbage (Shoot Em Up).
ANYWAY, this is not really about the talented Mr. Giamati but the good, small movie, Win Win.
What do I mean by "small movie." Others may have different definitions but mine has a few components. The movie didn't cost loads of money, it is not grandiose in setting, scope or , overtly at least, in subject matter. I will allow no contemplation of deep eternal mysteries in a "small" film. It is not about some great leader and it is shot in an understated fashion. When it is all these things, to be good, the writing has to be spot on and the acting has to be too. This isn't a complete definition but like the U.S Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart I state, "I know it when I see it." I am referring to "small movies" not pornography like Justice Stewart.
These are often my favorite type of movies when done well ("small movies" not porno). They call to mind last year's Get Low and Turtle Diary (1985). They are about everyday people living everyday lives who have to confront something--and that something might be everyday living or it might be a plot to release prisoner turtles.
ANYWAY, this is not really about the talented Mr. Giamati but the good, small movie, Win Win.
What do I mean by "small movie." Others may have different definitions but mine has a few components. The movie didn't cost loads of money, it is not grandiose in setting, scope or , overtly at least, in subject matter. I will allow no contemplation of deep eternal mysteries in a "small" film. It is not about some great leader and it is shot in an understated fashion. When it is all these things, to be good, the writing has to be spot on and the acting has to be too. This isn't a complete definition but like the U.S Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart I state, "I know it when I see it." I am referring to "small movies" not pornography like Justice Stewart.
These are often my favorite type of movies when done well ("small movies" not porno). They call to mind last year's Get Low and Turtle Diary (1985). They are about everyday people living everyday lives who have to confront something--and that something might be everyday living or it might be a plot to release prisoner turtles.
No one in this film is made out to be EVIL or turned into caricature. Everyone has faults and does stupid little things and sometimes stupid big things. But you see the characters know what they are doing is wrong. Good people who feel trapped often do things they are not proud of but where does it leave you in the end?
In an old fashioned, Old Testament-style story or any episode of The Untouchables, the bad or even those who make a small mistake GET IT. But in these small movies it doesn't happen like that. How many truly evil people do you know? Bad? Sure. Evil? I mean Hitler-evil? Probably none. And sure people sometimes make a bad but everyday decisions with severe consequences. They tar the driveway when it is 103 degrees out and get heat stroke. They try to clean the rain gutters with a rake during a thunderstorm and get struck by lightening.
But these are few and far between. Mostly we make mistakes and we learn from them and live with them. We usually get a second chance, a third chance a fourth chance and then we learn something. And that is what small movies are like--life.
You will notice I have not mentioned anything about wrestling yet. That is because this is about wrestling in the same way True Grit is about horses. It is something people do. It is a great choice of a sport because it is both an individual and a team sport in a unique way. Everyone in this movie is part of a team of some sort.
I could write about what people do and the plot but I won't. There are no M. Night Shymalan twists here. But the slow unfolding of who each person IS, in the film is worth seeing for yourself rather than having someone tell you about it.
In an old fashioned, Old Testament-style story or any episode of The Untouchables, the bad or even those who make a small mistake GET IT. But in these small movies it doesn't happen like that. How many truly evil people do you know? Bad? Sure. Evil? I mean Hitler-evil? Probably none. And sure people sometimes make a bad but everyday decisions with severe consequences. They tar the driveway when it is 103 degrees out and get heat stroke. They try to clean the rain gutters with a rake during a thunderstorm and get struck by lightening.
But these are few and far between. Mostly we make mistakes and we learn from them and live with them. We usually get a second chance, a third chance a fourth chance and then we learn something. And that is what small movies are like--life.
You will notice I have not mentioned anything about wrestling yet. That is because this is about wrestling in the same way True Grit is about horses. It is something people do. It is a great choice of a sport because it is both an individual and a team sport in a unique way. Everyone in this movie is part of a team of some sort.
I could write about what people do and the plot but I won't. There are no M. Night Shymalan twists here. But the slow unfolding of who each person IS, in the film is worth seeing for yourself rather than having someone tell you about it.
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