RSS 2.0Sideways (2004)
This latest feature by director, Alexander Payne [About Schmidt (2002) & Citizen Ruth (1996)], has received a lot of publicity and honors in the U.S., including four Oscar nominations [best motion picture, best supporting actor (Thomas Haden Church), best supporting actress (Virginia Madsen), best director (Alexander Payne) and best screenplay adaptation (Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor )]. Known for making films with a quirky humor about unglamorous people, Payne brings us a very quiet film that will have you laughing and reflecting if not simply inspiring you to taste a glass of some good wine.
It’s the story about two old friends, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), who head off into California wine country for a week of wine tasting, golf and hanging out before Jack gets married the following weekend. Right from the beginning the set up is made between the opposite personalities of “happy go lucky” Jack and the introspective, wine tasting fanatic, Miles. The two are a likable duo so the prospect of coming along on their buddy bonding weekend seems pleasant enough when in the mood for an enjoyable night out at the movies. The less serious, Jack decides that it’s time Miles moved on from his grieving over his ex-wife and got himself laid. Naturally Miles protests but then enters the lovely Maya (Virginia Madsen) and his resistance to love weakens. Naturally things don’t go all too smoothly for Miles and Maya, largely due to Jack’s compulsive lying.
The film is entertaining and humorous, but still I was left wondering what all the fuss is about. Yes, it’s an enjoyable film, but Oscar nominations? What’s up with that?! Then again, just look at the lame showing for the nomination list this year and the question is answered. I don’t mean to put Sideways down at all. It was a nice film and everyone involved in the making of it clearly did their job competently. This is an ideal film to take a date to and I’m sure it’ll do very well at the box office on Valentine’s Day weekend.
denise (91 posts)Loves the big screen experience of sitting in a dark room with about a hundred strangers all getting sucked into the fantasy realm beyond the silver screen.
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Fun anecdote: Alexander Payne was present at the IFFR and he was invited to do a wine tasting session. He was so annoyed by it (and even got into a discussion with his interviewer), since he stated he had escaped the US and the Hollywood vibe and felt as though he was confronted with a similar attitude by attending a wine testing session…
Comment by arjan — Sun February 6, 2005 @ 12:41I really liked this movie. I do agree I don’t think it was a Oscar nomination. There were better films out there. I did enjoy it.
Comment by Donna A. — Mon July 18, 2005 @ 4:03Donna A.
This was indeed a quiet film, I enjoyed watching it with a hangover
. I particularly enjoyed Paul Giamatti’s performance. He was subtle and believable and likeable in all his negative frustration. I didn’t fing myself laughing very often, but perhaps that was because of the hangover. The ending was good too: not too sweet, not too tied up but also not too open.
Comment by suzero — Mon March 20, 2006 @ 10:37