Win Win

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: When a lawyer (Paul Giamatti) decides to be the legal guardian to an old man with dementia (Burt Young), he doesn't realize that he's also about to get a surrogate son (Alex Shaffer).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Paul Giamatti, Alex Shaffer, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale, Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young, Melanie Lynsky, Margo Martindale, David Thompson, Clare Foley, Nina Arianda

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. People who can relate to growing up with a parent who's an addict, or making extreme decisions in the face of money struggles, or high school wrestling, may find brilliance in this piece. Everyone else will leave the theater having felt a little less than they were expecting to.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Bobby Cannavale's hatred for his ex-wife is about as strong as it gets. The rest of the humor is probably too quirky for most of you.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Could do, but mostly if you're dealing with any of the above listed problems... Like high school wrestling, for example.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: While we're on the topic, I'd like to take this moment to point out that I was in an Oscar pool with the editor of this film, and he cheated. He knows I wasn't pleased. I don't think he knows I have a blog, though.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Amy Ryan is the new Meryl Streep. Have I ever seen her do anything that wasn't 100% real? No, never. Actually, I'm starting to believe that she's not an actress at all, she's just this real person who goes from film to film saying all the stuff that's going on in her life, while actors say their lines around her.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Tom McCarthy has a very naturalistic style that you don't notice at all. After 3 very simple successful films, I'd be interested to see him challenge himself with something a little more stylized. I mean, he doesn't have to, I'm just curious to know if he can.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It deals with a lot of deep issues in a slightly comedic manner. The storyline works, however small the scope may be, but I would have liked to see the comedy be a little less slight.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: Wrestling really is gay. And I don't mean that in the metaphorical way, like in The Dilemma, I mean it's really homosexual. I'd heard people joke about it my whole life. But there's a lot of it in this movie, and it's no joke. They're in leotards and their weenies are sticking out, and the goal is to get the other guy on the floor and wrap your legs around him. The only thing gayer I've ever seen is gay sex, and that's only because I've actually seen gay sex.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Win Win Trailer

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The Express

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: The life story of Ernie Davis, the first Black person to win the Heisman Trophy. (And hence, paving the way for OJ.)

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Darrin Dewett henson, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Charles S. Dutton, Justin Martin, Justin Jones, Nicole Beharie, Aunjanue Ellis, Saul Rubinek, Geoff Stults

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It's so hard to make a biopic interesting. How do you build suspense when everyone already knows what's gonna happen? In this movie they try to build conflict around the racism that Ernie Davis and his Black teammates faced-- which much like movies about the Holocaust, always makes for interesting and accessible emotional intensity-- but the movie still suffers from the fact that it's a biopic.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: In honor of Sarah Palin, I'm going to ignore that question and answer a different one... You may have noticed that I'm on a roll with seeing race-themed movie about the mid-20th century. And here's something interesting that I've learned from the experience: A Black man won the Heisman Trophy before Black people had the right to vote. I suppose as a country, we never have quite gotten our priorities straight.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I'm a sucker for these kinds of movies. It's like with romantic comedies, you know where it's going, but it still makes you teary and shivery inside.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: To give an award to a movie about a guy who gets an award is ridiculous. What would be next? A movie about the movie getting an award? And would we have to give that an award, too? No, we have to stop the self-eating cycle of ridiculousness before it begins.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Dennis Quaid is like a fine wine, he gets more textured and tasty as he ages.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Football is one of the trickiest things to film because there are tons of guys running around the field at once, they're all dressed the same, and they're all wearing helmets. Gary Fleder does a good job of keep your focus on #44, and shooting tight close-ups inside his helmet, so you can keep an eye on your main character at all times.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Even though it's a true story, it feels a little like it's been done before. And Remember the Titans did it better. If you like Football-Racism movies, you must rent Remember the Titans immediately.

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