As an actor, Thomas McCarthy once received such a wonderful comment, calling him a first-rate actor who specializes in second-rate characters. In the praise, Thomas actually appeared in blockbusters like "Flags of Fathers" and "2012", but it was difficult for the audience to pay attention to him. It was not his home court. So he realized that he had to open up his own territory, starting from "Mind Station" in 2003 to write and direct, to "Uninvited Guest" in 2007, and then to the independent comedy "Win-Win" released by FOX Searchlight this year, today's Thomas McCarthy is already a popular player on three-of-three shots at the Sundance Film Festival.
The story of "Win-Win" takes place in Thomas' hometown of New Jersey. Mike, a lawyer who specializes in representing elderly clients, has recently been in a sluggish business. The two daughters are waiting at home to be fed, almost unable to pay the insurance premium next month but dare not confess to his wife. Mike worked as a volunteer coach for the high school wrestling team at night, which is also a hopeless team. Overwhelmed by financial difficulties, Mike came up with the next move: volunteered to be the guardian of his client Leo. The old grandfather Leo lost contact with his children early, and he was confused but insisted on living at home alone. In this way, Mike got the monthly guardian salary paid by the government, and Leo was sent to the retirement apartment by him to save trouble. The appearance of a win-win situation was formed. However, the sudden visit of Leo's grandson, Kyle, who had never met, twitched the top of the story, and the life of the Mike family began to turn.
Mike’s actor Paul Giamatti and the director were brothers in the drama department of Yale University twenty years ago, but the two have never really collaborated, and they are pure buddies. Thomas has been thinking about doing something with his old classmates. When the "Win-Win" script finally took shape, Thomas knocked on Paul's house on Thanksgiving night, and it was not too late twenty years later. Remember the frustrated writer who shouted "I am a fingerprint on the window of a skyscraper" in "Life with a Glass of Wine"? Paul is a veritable acting school. He is good at portraying the image of a heavy and introverted middle-aged man who is trapped in his life. Paul frankly said that playing the unknown lawyer and amateur wrestling coach in New Jersey is no easier than the interpretation of John Adams, the most famous American lawyer in 2008. "You have only one roadblock and challenge," the director Thomas was trying to appetite his old classmates. "I understand," Paul understood, "It's the joy of acting this guy."
Yes, this is a happy movie about the greatest kindness between people and all the sweet burdens in life. The guardian of Mike was defeated. He thought he would suffer the roar of the Hedong Lion. Unexpectedly, his wife not only took in Leo's grandson Kyle, but also threatened to beat Leo's daughter to avenge the domestic violence Kyle. The high school wrestling team also had a magical turnaround because of Kyle's joining. The three middle-aged and elderly business coaches were so excited for the youngsters' battle, they were jealous and laughed together. Although "Win-Win" can still be classified as a warm and inspirational film, I don't think it ends with the cliché world peace and reunion. There is no perpetual motion machine in the world, so how can there be an eternal win-win situation? The guardianship money is sent to Leo’s daughter regularly every month, and he has to pay for a teenager’s education and daily expenses. Mike’s financial pressure is even greater, and he has to seek a third place for himself in addition to his lawyers and coaches. profession. The reverse of a win-win situation actually has to pay a higher price. Our male protagonist is as sweet as an ordinary smiling hero.
Many critics have given "perfect" to evaluate the casting of "Win-Win". It is also the first time that I strongly feel that the impeccable casting will make the whole movie's brilliance grow exponentially. No role is not appropriate. The familiar faces of Amy Renn and Paul in the American TV series The Office play a pair of real middle-aged parents, a hot temper and a good gentleman, but the issue of adopting Kyle is 100%. tacit agreement. What is more worth mentioning is Alex Shafer, the actor of the wrestling teenager Kyle. This is a real wrestling master. During the filming of "Win-Win", he has won two regional championships. Alex has never been in a filming experience, and has no intention of packaging himself as a talented young actor. In the face of media interviews, the humble and shy boy always owes the credit to the action guidance he trains with him every day, and he confronts him over and over again. Actors, uncles and aunts of the show. Someone deliberately teased a seventeen-year-old child and asked him if he had seen Thomas’s previous works, “To be honest, I haven’t read any of them. Alas, I feel too stupid. I’ll go back and watch it now.” Scratching his head embarrassedly, the school sisters who provoked laughed again.
For American independent filmmakers who are fighting personally with Hollywood's industrialized films, it is not easy to be unbeaten, and it is a luxury to seek a win-win situation. However, "The article is written to the extreme, there is no strangeness, it is just right; the character is written to the extreme, there is no difference between the others, just the original." Only like Thomas can maintain the relationship between anyone and anyone. The creators who are full of curiosity and always patiently tell stories like cooking Xiaoxian, only Paul and Amy are the second-tier performers who stand firmly behind Hollywood stars, experienced mature, relaxed and open performers. Only with natural cooperation can the common prosperity of word-of-mouth and box office be possible. These excellent filmmakers are the background color of independent films.
At the end of the show, the students still refused to leave the film. The photography department got stuck in a bunch of gestures for lens scheduling. The film maker straightened his arms and wanted to ask the last question about the audition of non-professional actors. I was sitting there. The chair also thought that compared to the immortal masters in black and white films, this kind of film is crisp and crisp, it is good in the bright, and the advantages can be learned. The main creators of "Win-Win" undoubtedly gave us these late generations a shot. Encouraging high fives. There is nothing more enjoyable on Friday night with good movies and good filmmakers.
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