From NetFlix:
Paul Giamatti stars as bush-league lawyer Mike Flaherty, who agrees to become an aging client’s legal guardian as a way to pay the bills. But his visions of an easy stipend begin to fade when the man’s teenage grandson suddenly appears on the scene. Just when the attorney thinks he’s found a way to make this new development work for him, the boy’s mother shows up and puts Flaherty’s dreams of a big score in jeopardy.
Feel-good films acceptable even for children are becoming an endangered species. Better grab this one while you can. Nothing is maudlin in this well-written and well-acted drama.
Paul Giamatti is his usual pitch perfect everyman, not a saint but still a hero in his everyday efforts to do the right thing (most of the time). His wife Amy Ryan (Helene McCready in “Gone Baby Gone”) is an understated pillar of strength.
As the lawyer Mike Flaherty, Giamatti is also a high-school wrestling coach with two assistant coaches: Bobby Cannavale (Eddie Saccardo in the TV series “Cold Case”) and Jeffrey Tambor (who, for me, will always be the crooked father of the Bluth family in the TV series “Arrested Development”, which I strongly recommend for those of you who love outrageous comedy).
Burt Young (Paulie in all the Rocky films) plays the senile Leo Poplar. Leo’s estranged drug-addicted daughter is played by Melanie Lynskey who was 34 during the filming. That age is just about right because Leo claims he has not seen Melanie for 20 years. And she could have a 17 year old son.
Alex Shaffer was perfect as the run-away champion wrestler (Leo’s grandson). He was 17 during the filming. Moreover in 2010, at the age of 17, he won the New Jersey State Wrestling Championship.
One small complaint: Alex was too polite a kid. If he was neglected by a drug-addicted mother, I doubt he would be such a model teen, although he did steal a car a while back.
DO NOT MISS THIS CHARMER !
Funny you should review the film just now–as it happens, went to see it yesterday.
Our comment: rarely see films like this any more–no violence, no sex, yet also not a trace of mushy sentimentality. Giamatti and Ryan were perfect in their main roles. Actually, all the actors were ideal for their roles–with the possible exception of Flaherty’s brother, who struck me as a “supernumerary”–didn’t really need him in the movie. There were a lot of nice little touches–Mike buying a whole pack of cigarettes (at what–$5 or $6 for a pack?), only to smoke one behind the store and throw the rest into the dumpster.
Kyle also well cast–a somewhat withdrawn young kid of few words, but given his circumstances, not surprising.
As Tony writes, “better grab this one while you can”–a thoroughly enjoyable two hours.