This is one of those movies that is really a “film” if
you know what I mean. And I don’t say that in a
pretentious way. I mean it sincerely. It is what the
experience of going to a theater is all about. It
made me laugh so hard. It made me cry, yeah it did. It
made me think – about life, about love, about growing
older. That is what being a “film” is all about.
The main story set up sounds pretty bad: A
middle-aged, middle school English teacher (Giamatti)
with a passion for California wines, finally finished
his novel and hopes it will sell. A shallow, once
handsome, has-been TV soap opera actor (Church) is
finally going to commit to a relationship and will get
married next Saturday. So with these two college
buddies at life’s crossroads, what else would wacky,
wild Californians do? Of course .. a road trip!. It
really does sound bad huh? But it is not.
The main purpose of the film, it seems to me, is to take
us inside the near pathetic existence of the teacher as
he sludges through yet another week in his dreary life.
But during this particular week on the road he
encounters several obstacles and forks in the road of
life. How he handles them right here and now, will
likely decide his fate for life. Does he have the
courage to find a high path in the sunshine or will he
always travel in the twilight of the valley because he
is too afraid to come out of the shadow created by his
inhibitions? Though the theme is serious, it is funny
and does not feel heavy at all until afterwards when you
think about it all.
I’ll be honest though. I’m not really too sure anyone
under 30 will enjoy it. Maybe they will…. I mean
having a character run naked though an ostrich farm in
the middle of the night sure sounds like the kind of
movie that packs in the Ashton Kutcher set. Lots of
drinking. Lots of women. But I dunno. It’s not
really like it may sound. It is a very thoughtful film.
And, though it may discourage you from seeing the film,
I need to tell you a few things…. It is difficult to
watch Giamatti’s character without thinking of his role
in American Splendor. The characterizations are
fairly similar. The saving grace of course is that
both are very good, but it is tough not to think of
comix author Harvey Pekar while watching this film – but
don’t.
Also I should tell you the writer/director
Alexander Payne
wrote and directed About Schmidt. I enjoyed that
movie, but there are many similarities to this one in
story, mood and style, and it is difficult not to think
of this film as About Schmidt Part Two – but
don’t.
I also need to tell you that the film discusses wine a
great deal. Depending on your interest in wine – it
can be good or bad. But regardless, it is important to
the story. It helps you understand many of the
characters. The film, through it wine references, may
help you understand love and life. How there are
natural cycles in everyone’s life -- peaks and
valleys. How timing is everything.
I give it 3 ½
pops. Why not 4 pops? Well, the music is terrible,
the color is washed out and the camera angles are
ordinary. I admit that these “flaws” add to the
atmosphere of the film, so maybe I should not deduct
points for them. Bottom line is that it is a very good
film. You should go see it. I guarantee there will be
several moments when you will laugh out loud, and if you
have a heart at all, I am sure you will need to rub away
a tear at least once. What more could you ask for in a
film or even a movie for that matter?
--
Pappy (
3 1/2 out of 4 pops )
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Other Junkie's
opinions.....
Mike ( 4 out of 4 pops )
Let me start right off and say
I loved this film and it is easily one of the best movies of the year.
It is so refreshing to see a film these days that actually tells an
interesting and original story. And the four performances by the central
actors are just brilliant and I will use the term original again to
describe these characters. Who would have thought that Thomas Church
would give such a perfect and entertaining performance as an
over-the-hill TV star. And Paul Giamatti again proves that he is one of
the best and intersting actors going these days. Just his mannerisms and
the way he says his lines are worth the price of admission. Giamatti
keeps adding to his resume of interesting characters. And Virginia
Madsen Sandra Oh add so much to the film with their performances as
well. Not too many films combine humor, drama and emotion in such a
successful way that this film does. Sideways is one of the must-see
films of this year. Don't miss it.
Billy Ray ( 4 out of 4 pops )
As a lover of both wine
collecting and cinema, "Sideways" was a wonderful treat for me. Never
would I have imagined enjoying such a simple film on such a monumental
level. Every aspect of the film amazed me. Essentially, it is nothing
more than a simple love story, though it appeals to both men and women.
Women get just the right amount of romance and passion, while men get
everything from porno magazines to graphic scenes of full frontal
nudity. While sitting in the theatre, I noticed the men were enjoying it
just as much as the women, and vice versa. Afterwards, everyone had a
smile on their faces. It is rare when a film finds a way to be
hilarious, touching, poignant, and wholly inspiring -- "Sideways" does.
This was, without a doubt, the finest motion picture I have seen this
year, and a brilliant work of art from director Alexander Payne.
Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church star as Miles and Jack, to best
friends who embark on a week long vacation to California wine country.
Miles is a wine fanatic with an incredible palette who imagines the trip
as a perfect opportunity to drink some wine, play some golf, and send
his soon to be married best pal out with style. Jack, however, sees the
trip as his final chance to get laid before he ties the knot in a few
days. Eventually, Miles and Jack run into Maya (Virginia Madsen), a
waitress at one of the local restaurants, and Stephanie (Sandra Oh), a
wine pourer at a local vinyard. Jack and Stephanie hit it off
immediately, most notably on a physical basis. Miles and Maya share
something deeper -- something pure and genuine. Their love for wine
slowly evolves into a love for one another, until Jack's secret is
revealed and everything goes up in smoke. This film has something
for everyone. Miles and Maya share a scene of incredible beauty, as they
both sit outside talking about their reasons for loving wine, all of
their descriptions translating to their own lives. The look in
Giamatti's eye when he realizes her hand is touching his made shivers
run down my spine. There are also scenes of extreme hilarity, as Jack
runs in the hotel room, totally nude, having just been caught having an
affair with a married woman. And, there is sadness. When Giamatti learns
that his ex-wife is not only happily married, but pregnant, we see the
total devastation on his face, barely able to keep away the tears.
"Sideways" is a perfect blend of all these genres, and it makes
filmmaking look so simple and clean. It can now be stated
with all clarity that Paul Giamatti is the best character actor working
in Hollywood today. I never would have dreamed he could top his
performance from "American Splendor", but he has to the tenth degree. If
the Academy does not award him a nomination, they should be taken out
back and shot. His performance drives the emotional core of the film,
and we find ourselves totally in love with him by the end of the
picture. Thomas Haden Church also deserves serious Oscar consideration
for the finest male supporting performance of the year. Here, he is the
comedy relief of the film, but is also given scenes that reveal his true
soul, like when he breaks down in the hotel room for Miles to help him
get his wedding rings back, or when he instructs Miles to bucke up,
solely out of concern for his best friend. Their chemistry together is
absolutely critical to the films success, and they never faulter. This
is what acting is all about. As for the remainder of the cast, Virginia
Madsen is stunning, and Sandra Oh adds yet another amazing film to her
ever expanding resume. Could an Oscar sweep be in the works?
Though the performances are unparalleled, much attention must be given
to Alexander Payne, the mastermind behind this film. He is truly one of
the greatest directors working today, especially considering how he is
able to squeeze such amazing performances from his casts. Remember Jack
Nicholson in "About Schmidt"? That character could have been Miles
Raymond, had he not gone on the trip with Jack. Payne's camera work and
technique is oozing all over this picture, and it shares a lot of
similarities with "About Schmidt", especially the road scenes of the
guys driving. If Oscar knows what is good for it, Payne should be a sure
lock for a nomination, if not also a win for this crowning jewel on his
already enormously impressive resume. I said it before and I will
say it again -- "Sideways" was the film I will remember most from
2004...it was the best film of the year and one of the best films I have
seen in a long, long while. I left the theatre with a smile on my face
and a twinkle in my spirit, and it is all thanks to tour-de-force
performances, pitch perfect directing, and some of the most gorgeous
bottles of wine mine eyes have ever seen. To close: Paul Giamatti for
Best Actor, Thomas Haden Church for Best Supporting Actor, Virginia
Madsen for Best Supporting Actress, Alexander Payne for Best Director
and Best Original Screenplay, and "Sideways" for Best Picture. It
probably won't win all of those, but is sure as hell deserves them.
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