A bottle of red, a bottle of white...
Title: Sideways
Year: 2004
Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor based on the novel by Rex Pickett
My Take: Alexander Payne's last two films (Election and About Schmidt) have explored, at one level or another, the theme of men questioning their reason for existence in this world. Both were comedies as well. Sideways follows this same formula, and like About Schmidt before it, manages to be a completely original take on the same theme.
Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling writer/middle school English teacher who takes his college roommate Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a former soap star and now voiceover artist about to be married, on a week-long trip to California's Wine Country the week before his wedding. Miles is two-years post divorce and still hasn't managed to get past it. Jack is a 40ish and never-married playboy who's primary goal for the week is one last fling before tying the knot.
Between the music and cinematography, the film simply sings like a 1970s road trip despite being set in the present day. The use of wine as a metaphor for life is a beautiful and subtle use of subtext throughout the film. Miles, who discerns the most subtle differences in wine (he's an enthusiast) and obviously spends a lot of time in introspection, is the complete opposite of Jack, who can't tell the difference between Boone's Farm and Puligny-Montrachet and wouldn't understand himself if he spent a year in therapy. That all of this can be accomplished with comedy is a testament to Payne's film-making talents.
The Verdict: I'm an unabashed fan of Alexander Payne's films. While some thought About Schmidt was overly sentimental or disingenuous, I found it a beautifully subtle kick in the nuts to the entire Baby Boomer generation. As for Sideways, if you've ever been divorced, loved wine, had a hard time relating to a former college roommate, or been caught in a lie, this film is definitely worth seeing. Hell, if you love great films, this is one of them.
Year: 2004
Director: Alexander Payne
Writers: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor based on the novel by Rex Pickett
My Take: Alexander Payne's last two films (Election and About Schmidt) have explored, at one level or another, the theme of men questioning their reason for existence in this world. Both were comedies as well. Sideways follows this same formula, and like About Schmidt before it, manages to be a completely original take on the same theme.
Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling writer/middle school English teacher who takes his college roommate Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a former soap star and now voiceover artist about to be married, on a week-long trip to California's Wine Country the week before his wedding. Miles is two-years post divorce and still hasn't managed to get past it. Jack is a 40ish and never-married playboy who's primary goal for the week is one last fling before tying the knot.
Between the music and cinematography, the film simply sings like a 1970s road trip despite being set in the present day. The use of wine as a metaphor for life is a beautiful and subtle use of subtext throughout the film. Miles, who discerns the most subtle differences in wine (he's an enthusiast) and obviously spends a lot of time in introspection, is the complete opposite of Jack, who can't tell the difference between Boone's Farm and Puligny-Montrachet and wouldn't understand himself if he spent a year in therapy. That all of this can be accomplished with comedy is a testament to Payne's film-making talents.
The Verdict: I'm an unabashed fan of Alexander Payne's films. While some thought About Schmidt was overly sentimental or disingenuous, I found it a beautifully subtle kick in the nuts to the entire Baby Boomer generation. As for Sideways, if you've ever been divorced, loved wine, had a hard time relating to a former college roommate, or been caught in a lie, this film is definitely worth seeing. Hell, if you love great films, this is one of them.
posted by Hairy Lime at 7:33 PM
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