I have to take it back.
After Barney's Version, I said it must be in Paul Giamatti's contract that he kept his beard in his movies.
In fact, I reckoned he and Zach Galifianakis must have had the same agent who negotiated their weirdy beardy roles.
Now two months later, having seen a face-fuzzless Giamatti in the rather splendid Win Win, I realised how poor my research was. A quick search on Google images revealed he had appeared so often without his whiskers he could be sponsored by Gillette turbo-mach.
Here the cleancut Giamatti is as good as ever in the role as stressed out lawyer Mike, a part-time wrestling coach.
To ease his money worries he does a bit of a shocking secret deal over a client with dementia but his involvement with the old fella leads to him also taking in his runaway grandson (the excellent Alex Shaffer).
The story may sound a little complicated but in reality, thanks to Thomas McCarthy's sharp screenplay, it becomes dazzlingly simple.
One word of warning, though...
After a stressful week, Mrs W fancied taking in a comedy as a bit of light relief.
But, despite its description, and a couple of chortles, Win Win was more of a drama than a rib-tickler.
It was an intelligent examination of human characteristics when put in entirely realistic tough situations.
Mike's business plight is the same as hundreds of thousands, due to the recession. The consequent pressures on family life are being repeated all over the world.
Kyle, the teenager his family take in, has an unravelling relationship with his mother which will draw empathy from many.
Thus, his behaviour is understandably erratic.
McCarthy's use of the wrestling ring, with Kyle as the prize fighter, is genius. Sport, as in real life, can be a perfect release valve.
To say more about Win Win would be giving too much away but I really hope that this smart film won't be swamped by Jack Sparrow and Jason Stave-um this week.
It deserves a decent audience and certainly warrants 7.5/10
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