Though the summer movie swing has begun courtesy of Thor and Bridesmaids I wanted to remind everyone of a little film released several weeks ago that is still worth trying to catch: writer/director Tom McCarthy's indie feature Win Win. See my review below!
It seems completely fitting that Alex Shaffer, who plays the rebellious teenager in McCarthy's latest, is a real-life high school wrestler, rather than an actor. After all, the film feels as genuine and true-to-life as any American indie film in recent memory. It’s a gem of a movie that celebrates how funny and frustrating and unexpected and encouraging everyday life can be, especially when observed through the affectionate lens of a movie camera.
Win Win is the story of a financially desperate lawyer named Mike Flaherty (the perfectly pathetic Paul Giamatti) who volunteers to be the caretaker of his aging client Leo Poplar (Burt Young) only to keep the monthly paycheck and place the poor fellow in a facility for the elderly. The act isn’t quite as malicious as it sounds, seeing that Leo can’t quite tell the difference anyway, but Mike knows that he is a good guy doing the wrong thing. Still, he pockets the extra dough and we sympathize because Mike is the struggling everyman; he’s got a devoted but needy family, a crumbling practice, and he coaches a despicably bad high school wrestling team. Mike’s secret would probably have remained such were it not for the arrival of Leo’s cigarette smoking, skateboard riding, bleach blonde grandson Kyle (played by newcomer Alex Shaffer).
Mike and his wife Jackie (the tough Amy Ryan) reluctantly welcome the runaway Kyle into their home after he refuses to take a bus back to his deadbeat mom Cindy (Melanie Lynskey.) She’s in rehab and the boy’s estranged grandfather is slowly losing his memory; neither seem fit to take care of him. What are Mike and Jackie supposed to do? Would we do any differently? Jackie is the most resistant, having only managed young daughters she’s skeptical of the teenage boy – he’s disobedient, a flight risk even -- but she eventually unlocks the basement door and even reveals her own ankle tattoo during a surprisingly charming moment; the two may have more in common than she’d thought. The Flahertys enroll Kyle in the local high school before Mike invites him to practice with the team and fellow coach (Jeffrey Tambour) only to discover – wait for it – that Kyle is a state champion high school wrestler. Mike steps forward at the chance to be a paternal support both on and off the mats, but the team’s skyrocketing success is suddenly interrupted when Cindy appears in town hoping to win Kyle’s affection.
You might not know McCarthy’s name or work yet but you really ought to. As an actor his face has popped up alongside more glamorous stars in films like Michael Clayton, Good Night and Good Luck, and Baby Mama, but in 2003 he stepped behind the camera to direct (and behind his laptop to write) the critically acclaimed Sundance hit The Station Agent. His sophomore project The Visitor was released in 2007 and earned it’s lead Richard Jenkins an Oscar nomination. Both films portray ordinary but disheartened characters finding unexpected comfort in surrogate families. Sound familiar?
McCarthy’s third and latest film version of the alternative family is perhaps his best. Save for a few unnecessarily silly moments with Mike’s best friend, a recently divorced, loud-mouthed bachelor named Terry (played by Bobby Cannavale), McCarthy portrays adults as honestly flawed and kids as smarter than they are given credit for. The script is sharp but never so much so that characters talk in that way which only exists in the movies; Kyle is not Juno and the Flahertys are instead a completely “regular” middle-class group, something not normally seen on the big screen.
Win Win is refreshing. It steers away from the predictability of a teenage sports drama and instead guides us toward a spirited finale where nothing is sweeter than victory on the home front.
If this trailer hasn't already been spoiled for you by the loads of internet articles, I demand you watch it below! Green With Envy stars Jason Segel (of TV's How I Met Your Mother and Forgetting Sarah Marshall previously) and the lovely Amy Adams (from Enchanted) but other than that I won't say a thing. Catch Green With Envy and find the surprising twist yourself here:
I found this very sweet little trailer for the indie film A Little Help this morning. It stars Jenna Fischer who may be best known for playing Pam Beasley on NBC's "The Office." Writer/Director Michael J. Weithorn's film sees Fischer as a widowed working mother trying to cope with the aftermath of her family loss while entertaining her mischievous 12 year-old son. Hopefully this leading role helps her "break out" as they say, or at least put her on everyone's map! I am not positive when Fox Searchlight is planning on releasing this, so keep your eye out! Catch A Little Help below:
I discovered this incredible short film courtesy of Roger Ebert today. It's a glimpse at the history of the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, California. When the Colorado River accidentally overflowed during the early 20th century, this man-made ocean appeared in one of the largest desserts in California. A tourist community emerged in the 1920s and population boomed during the 1950s suburban movement, but soon the Salton Sea's salt levels ran higher than that of the oceans wreaking havoc on marine life, and subsequently the neighborhood died.
Watch this sad, strange, and beautiful tale about what the world looks like when people disappear.
Head on over to First Showing to read my latest review of this weekend's box office hit Bridesmaids starring Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph. The article focuses on my reaction to the film as a woman and a screenwriter!
I had the chance to see Leonard Nimoy, known famously for playing Spock on the popular Star Trek television series, speak at Boston University last week and was both surprised and touched by his thoughts. It felt to me like a pre-commencement commencement speaker and I wanted to share my two favorite anecdotes from his speech.
First, as a small boy in Boston's West End and a child of Ukrainian immigrants, Leonard and his brother often went to a local settlement house for lessons and sports. But this particular place also had a theater, which was certainly rare, and on the stage was a curtain embroidered with a forest scene. Leonard recalled that the trim of the curtain had stitched in Gothic letters a phrase he could never forget:
"Act well your part, there all honor lies."
Of course, as a young aspiring actor these words meant that Leonard could find himself honored to perform, even if it was miles away from the work of his laboring parents. But for me it means that no matter what you choose to do, if you do it well you can feel a sense of honor and accomplishment.
The second story that Mr. Nimoy told which struck me particularly was this: as a struggling actor in Los Angeles he was forced to sell vacuums and insurance and even drive a taxi cab. One day he received a call to pick up a man named Kennedy at a hotel. Being a boy from Boston, Leonard was familiar with a Senator John F. Kennedy, a man that no one on the west coast had even heard of yet. When JFK fell into the back seat of Leonard's cab the actor simply said, "How are things in Boston, Senator Kennedy?" The surprised Kennedy asked Leonard what in the world he was doing in Los Angeles, a whole country between him and his hometown. "I'm an actor," Nimoy said. Then the senator, soon to be globally famous President, said: "Actors and politicians, we have a lot a like. There are too many of us out there, competition is fierce. But there's always room for another good one."
Act well your part, there all honor lies. There's always room for another good one.
And with that, we graduates can step out into the real world with a little more hope and confidence.
My older sister Clare discovered this random film tribute that I thought was worthy of a post. I would explain what it is, but that might spoil all the fun. Watch below!
If you missed this weekend's latest musical short on Saturday Night Live, here is your chance to catch up! A hilarious video that reminds everyone what a good sense of humor Michael Bolton has.
Today was my final day of my undergraduate work at Boston University so I'm feeling a bit nostalgic and thought it would be worth glancing back at some of the best films that celebrate school, freedom, and future. I won't do any analysis (since I am officially finished with that until they hand me my degree and I join the working world) but thought it would be fun to collect images and videos for the chance to sigh with relief and remember how much fun school (and movies) can be.
