The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
The Winning Season
Comedy · Drama · 2009
A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team
Movie details
The Winning Season
“It took a bunch of girls to make him man up.”
2009 Comedy · Drama 1h 59m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.3 / 10
Community rating
A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Winning Season?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Goon
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White Men Can't Jump
Comedy · 1992
Two street basketball hustlers try to con each other, then team up for a bigger score.
About Alex
Comedy · 2014
When a group of old college friends reunite over a long weekend after one of them attempts suicide, old crushes and resentments shine light on their life decisions, and ultimately push friendships and relationships to the brink.
All About Nina
Comedy · 2018
Nina Geld's passion and talent have made her a rising star in the comedy scene, but she's an emotional mess offstage. When a new professional opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to confront her own deeply troubled past.
Big Fan
Comedy · 2009
Paul Aufiero, a 35-year-old parking-garage attendant from Staten Island, is the self-described "world's biggest New York Giants fan". One night, Paul and his best friend Sal spot Giants star linebacker Quantrell Bishop at a gas station and decide to follow him. At a strip club Paul cautiously decides to approach him but the chance encounter brings Paul's world crashing down around him.
Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Jim Strouse
Written by
Jim Strouse
Sam Rockwell
Bill
Emma Roberts
Abby
Rob Corddry
Terry
Emily Rios
Kathy
Rooney Mara
Wendy
Jessica Hecht
Stacey
Connor Paolo
Damon
Court is in session
Put The Winning Season on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.