Sideways (2005)

One Great Inside Joke

Sideways is a buddy movie about two flawed buddies who go off on a wine-tasting adventure in lieu of a bachelor party. The story is more melancholic than comic as the buddies each bump up against their disappointments and failures.
There are lots of reasons to watch this film. The acting is masterful, Sandra Oh is delectable and the scenery is-for most of us-a delight.What sets this movie up for a special place in my heart is one great wine joke.

There's a scene in the beginning where Miles (Paul Giamatti) carries on at some length about Merlot and his dislike of it. It's a rant that I've seen imitated a few times. At the very end of the movie, Miles decides to drink the one great bottle of wine that he's been saving for ' a special occasion'. He's depressed at the time (Miles is depressed a lot) and so he takes it to a fast food joint and drinks it with a Wiftyburger or whatever they call 'em. As he pulls the wine out of the bag, we get a quick peek at the label. It's a fabled Bordeaux called Cheval Blanc. You won't find this information on the label, but wine insiders know that one of the dominant grapes in that wine is.....yup, Merlot.

Lynn Hoffman author ofThe New Short Course in Wine August 16, 2008

Lost in American Suburbia. Brilliant work from director Alexander Payne...

What a marvelous film. The latest, brilliant work from director Alexander Payne, who once again finds the empty, lonely heart at the center of so much American life. I have watched it many times, and still find wonderful things in the performances of Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh (Mrs Payne at the time the film was made).

All the characters in Payne films share the prospect of being trapped in shallow roles and jobs they have accepted in suburban American life. They yearn to, if only for a second, or a weekend, escape from or rise above the tedium of their existence. It's no accident of course that his most memorable protagonists have included middle school teachers (Election and Sideways) and an insurance company drone (About Schmidt).

To the reviewer who wrote:

"I felt such raw hate for it that I had to buy it - 1) because it elicited such strong disgust and abject hatred and 2) because I am happy to have found a movie that perfectly exemplifies just how terrible, inferior, and worthless a movie can possibly be."

All I can say is: you sound just like a character in a Alexander Payne movie!
July 31, 2008

Wine and Hope

The movie started out slow. It seemed to be about a couple of jerks, one a manipulator/liar and the other a "friend" who covers for the manipulator/liar. They are spending a week in the California wine country before one of them marries, but this groom lacks a certain fidelity. Both men seemed self-centered, boorish. At first I thought "Who cares?" But the film picked up and turned into a powerful portrait of the costs of friendship and the nature of hope. I think the two friends and the women they encounter are types of people that we all know. It captures the angst generated by failure and the resultant rejection. "Nobody wants you when you're down and out." There's an effective blend of pathos and humor. At first rather flat, it turned into a heady brew. July 4, 2008

Excellent film

The acting in this film is incredible. This film is not for anyone who thinks special effects, chase scenes, sex, or well known movie stars make a great movie. These people are very real, they don't do anything spectacular, like real people they have moments where they are doing just what they want to do, without any sense of how its affecting someone else, and other moments when they need to be everything they are, but just can't quite get there. It's filled with amazing dialogue and alot of really funny moments. I would recommend this film to anyone who likes substance and realism without the overblown characterisms and plots usually found in Hollywood films. June 26, 2008

Life is sweet, bitter, funny and stupid

I just finished watching this film and admittedly was very hesitant too watch it in the first place. Having said that, I finely decided to rent it and take a look at the hype. I must said I was pleasantly surprised, and found it to be a highly intellectual film.


I do think that this film might be lost on non creative working people. Meaning if you have not been involved in the arts, acting, writing novels, photography, painting, dancing.......then you may not understand the struggles of the two main characters. Those two guys remind me so much of the type of people you meet in the world of the Arts. Meaning that the highs are high and the lows are low. Most of them are selfish and very weak people, as we will see with the two main characters.

I found 80% of the script to be spot on, and very realistic. The subject of wine was actually interesting, and I find wine info to be about as exciting as watching paint dry. But this storyteller did an outstanding job. There are moments where the dialogue is outstanding. When actress Virginia Madsen talks about why she got into wine, I was blown away. Very intense and impressive performance. However he and Giamatti being a pair just does not strike me as real. Ok, well it takes place in California so anything is possible!

What I find to be most impressive about this movie, is the fact that it is an accurate portrait of life in general. It just so happens that a wild number of things occur in a few days in the film. But if you stretch that out in your own life, you'll find that we all go through things like this. So the message to me if you find this film confusing is to really "look before you leap," in the decisions you make with your life.

I do not consider this film to be a comedy, it has funny moments to be sure. I consider it a drama, that is very serious. I do not wish to refer to it as a chick flick, but there are moments when it comes close. I think I would call it a life lesson film. So if you want insight into your own life and how to relate that to others, then I think this film might offer you a gaze into that world. June 25, 2008

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