Win Win
A struggling lawyer and volunteer wrestling coach's chicanery comes back to haunt him when the teenage grandson of the client he has double-crossed comes into his life.
The film disappointed at the box office against its tight budget of $10.8M, earning $10.7M globally (-2% loss).
5 wins & 22 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Win Win (2011) showcases deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Tom McCarthy's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Mike Flaherty, a struggling small-town attorney, has a panic attack while jogging, establishing his stressed, financially desperate state. His law practice is failing and he's coaching a losing high school wrestling team.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Mike discovers he can become Leo Poplar's legal guardian and receive a monthly stipend. Despite knowing he should place Leo in care, Mike sees this as a solution to his money problems and lies to the court.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Kyle, Leo's teenage grandson, shows up unexpectedly at Mike's office looking for his grandfather. Mike can't turn him away and allows Kyle to stay with his family, entering a new world of responsibility beyond the financial scheme., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: The wrestling team is winning with Kyle as their star. Mike's relationship with Kyle deepens, and he feels like a mentor/father figure. Everything seems great, but the lie about Leo's guardianship still looms. Stakes raise as Mike becomes more invested., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Mike's fraud is exposed. Jackie discovers the truth about the guardianship scheme, and Kyle learns that Mike has been lying. The trust and relationships Mike built are shattered. His moral compromise costs him everything that truly mattered., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Mike decides to make things right. He chooses integrity over self-preservation, ready to face legal consequences and repair relationships. He synthesizes the lesson: genuine connection and doing right matter more than financial survival., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Win Win's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Win Win against these established plot points, we can identify how Tom McCarthy utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Win Win within the comedy genre.
Tom McCarthy's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Tom McCarthy films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Win Win represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tom McCarthy filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tom McCarthy analyses, see Stillwater, Spotlight and The Visitor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mike Flaherty, a struggling small-town attorney, has a panic attack while jogging, establishing his stressed, financially desperate state. His law practice is failing and he's coaching a losing high school wrestling team.
Theme
Mike's wife Jackie or friend Terry makes a comment about doing the right thing or taking shortcuts, foreshadowing the moral compromise Mike will make. The theme explores integrity versus desperation.
Worldbuilding
We see Mike's world: his struggling law practice, his failing wrestling team with no wins, his financial pressures, his supportive wife Jackie, and his friendship with assistant coach Terry. He learns about elderly client Leo Poplar who needs a guardian.
Disruption
Mike discovers he can become Leo Poplar's legal guardian and receive a monthly stipend. Despite knowing he should place Leo in care, Mike sees this as a solution to his money problems and lies to the court.
Resistance
Mike wrestles with his decision, places Leo in a care facility while collecting guardianship fees. He rationalizes his choice. His wrestling team continues to lose. The tension of his secret compromise builds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kyle, Leo's teenage grandson, shows up unexpectedly at Mike's office looking for his grandfather. Mike can't turn him away and allows Kyle to stay with his family, entering a new world of responsibility beyond the financial scheme.
Mirror World
Kyle joins the wrestling team and reveals he's an exceptional wrestler. The relationship between Mike and Kyle develops - Kyle represents redemption and genuine connection, mirroring the theme of what truly matters versus financial gain.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - Kyle transforms the wrestling team, winning matches. Mike and Jackie welcome Kyle into their family. Mike enjoys success and connection while hiding his fraudulent guardianship. Life seems to be working out despite the lie.
Midpoint
False victory: The wrestling team is winning with Kyle as their star. Mike's relationship with Kyle deepens, and he feels like a mentor/father figure. Everything seems great, but the lie about Leo's guardianship still looms. Stakes raise as Mike becomes more invested.
Opposition
Kyle's troubled mother Cindy appears, creating complications. She wants Kyle back or wants money. Mike's fraud begins to catch up with him as questions arise about Leo's care. The family dynamics become strained. Mike's lies multiply to protect his secret.
Collapse
Mike's fraud is exposed. Jackie discovers the truth about the guardianship scheme, and Kyle learns that Mike has been lying. The trust and relationships Mike built are shattered. His moral compromise costs him everything that truly mattered.
Crisis
Mike faces the consequences of his actions. His relationship with Jackie is damaged, Kyle feels betrayed, and Mike must confront who he has become. The dark night where he processes losing the genuine connections he valued more than money.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mike decides to make things right. He chooses integrity over self-preservation, ready to face legal consequences and repair relationships. He synthesizes the lesson: genuine connection and doing right matter more than financial survival.
Synthesis
Mike takes responsibility for his actions, attempts to make amends with Jackie and Kyle. He faces the consequences of his fraud. Kyle wrestles in a final important match. Mike supports him not as part of a scheme but out of genuine care.
Transformation
Final image shows Mike in a more honest, humble place. Though he faces consequences, he has his integrity back and the possibility of redemption. The closing mirrors the opening but shows a man who chose principle over profit.