“I’ve had a lot of this lately,” says “Win Win” writer-director Tom McCarthy over breakfast at a downtown Denver hotel.
“A guy comes up to me after a preview screening and says, ‘So do you think they’re going to let you make a big movie?’ “
McCarthy gets it. And though the fan’s a bit wrong-headed, we do, too.
Because during the past several years, the actor has been becoming one of the finest directors of affecting, amusing, character-rich American films. Among them: “The Station Agent” (2003) and “The Visitor” (2007). They aren’t “big.” They are profoundly humane and winning.
His third is a charmer about an elder lawyer and high-school wrestling coach, played by Paul Giamatti, who wades into a moral muddle when he becomes guardian of a client and then offers the guy’s grandson a temporary home and a spot on his low-talent team.
This morning, sitting next to McCarthy is 17-year-old Alex Shaffer, the one-time New Jersey high school wrestling champ McCarthy cast alongside indie luminaries Giamatti and Amy Ryan.
As Kyle, the newcomer nails a powerfully likable performance as a taciturn youngster trying to find a position in the world he can count on.
The pair make an endearing tag team as they discuss making “Win Win,” touring and a little 7-year-old wrestling dynamo they’ve discovered on YouTube.
Q:Alex, has this been a wild ride for you?
Shaffer: Yeah. I never really saw myself doing this. I was wrestling a year ago. (He turns to McCarthy.) What are you smiling at, man? What if you were a high-school wrestler, and then this?
McCarthy: Dude, I cannot imagine.
Shaffer: It’s pretty crazy.
McCarthy: Just the other day we were in San Diego doing press, and I see Alex talking to a reporter. Wow. I met him literally after a wrestling match. It was kind of a big match. He was wrestling the state champion from the year before. I grabbed my director of photography. He’s German, so he’d never been to a wrestling match. He was like, “This is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this before.” It was wild — one of those matches where both the coaches are off the bench, screaming. The action is happening so fast. . . . He beat this kid, 4-2?
Shaffer: 5-2.
McCarthy: The match finished. He runs off toward the bleachers. I start to follow him, being all discreet, kind of watching him. His teammates are coming over to congratulate him. All of sudden this little lady appears.
Shaffer: My mom.
McCarthy: She’s this fireplug. She’s like, “Hello.” She’s like “Are you Tom McCarthy? Are you here to see my son? You wanna meet him?” She takes me to him. I definitely had a moment when I forgot I was the director looking at an actor. I was like “Cool, the athlete’s talking to me. I love athletes.”
Q:Alex, what led you to send in an audition tape?
Shaffer: Honestly, I really didn’t want to at first. A friend texted me and told me to audition for it. My response was, “No.” Then he dropped the line on me “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Q:What first attracted you to wrestling? Shaffer: When I was younger, I always wanted to do karate and my dad would never let me. I think he knew I wouldn’t like it and I was more into contact. Then he signed me up for judo, which was so much fun. When I got a year older and went to kindergarten (Tom laughs), I wanted to start wrestling. I brought home the form, showed it to my dad and he signed it. I’ve always loved the sport. Eleven years.
McCarthy: I sent this link to Alex. There’s this 7-year-old wrestling phenom on YouTube right now. Little mohawked kid.
Shaffer: He’s insane. He wrestles like a high-school wrestler. Just look up “amazing 7-year-old wrestler.” He’s literally a little-kid badass.
Film critic Lisa Kennedy: 303-954-1567 or lkennedy@denverpost.com; also on
