Winner Winner

I caught wind of an interesting independent movie released earlier this year, but never quite had the wherewithal to get out to a theater to see it. When it arrived on DVD recently, though, I bumped it straight to the top of the queue.

Win Win stars Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan as parents navigating financial difficulties. His modest law practice is a bit too modest, and he's having trouble making ends meet. When a rich older client with early stage dementia and no family is about to be ordered into state care, he steps in and volunteers to be the man's caretaker -- to receive the monthly $1500 stipend from the state. But no sooner has he accepted the role that he learns the man does have living family; a grandson shows up, fleeing an abusive mother, and now the couple must take him in too.

The film is a sweet collage of humor and sentiment, a fun concoction that simultaneously entertains and pulls gently on the heartstrings. The characters are deep and believable, and the performances are great all around. Bobby Cannavale, Burt Young, Margo Martindale, and Jeffrey Tambor show up in supporting roles, and the newcomer playing the grandson, Alex Shaffer, is wonderfully subtle and engaging.

I would compare the tone of this movie to that of Juno. While this movie doesn't quite reach the same lofty heights of quality, it's still a very well made and thoroughly enjoyable film. I rate it an A-, and would strongly recommend it.