Sideways is directed by Alexander Payne who also co-writes the screenplay with Jim Taylor. It stars Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. Music is scored by Rolfe Kent and cinematography by Phedon Papamichael.
Jack (Church) is getting married and to celebrate his last throes of freedom his best pal, wine connoisseur Miles (Giamatti), treats him to a week of golf and touring of the Californian vineyards. But Jack has other plans, he wants to sow his wild oats whilst also getting an emotionally closed off Miles to open up after two years of post divorced sadness.
Simple yet wonderfully original, Sideways is a human comedy/drama gem. Director Payne and his co-writer Taylor don't deal in gimmicks or trickery to sell their movie, they are concerned about characters, flawed characters that all of us can identify with. There's no need for grand standing, either from the characters or the actors playing them, this is earthy realism coming from an America far removed from the crash bang and wallop multiplex offerings that often coin it in at the box office. All of the four principal characters here are deftly drawn, they are interesting and likable, even when doing, in the case of Jack and Miles, stupid things. They have our attention completely, even tugging away at the heart strings as we find ourselves laughing at the often absurdity of the emotive human condition.
This is thoughtful and well observed stuff, boosted considerably by four terrific performances, with Giamatti giving one of the best performances of the year. If you haven't seen it yet then let it in to your life, enjoy, preferably with a fine wine. You will feel all the better for the experience. 9/10
Jack (Church) is getting married and to celebrate his last throes of freedom his best pal, wine connoisseur Miles (Giamatti), treats him to a week of golf and touring of the Californian vineyards. But Jack has other plans, he wants to sow his wild oats whilst also getting an emotionally closed off Miles to open up after two years of post divorced sadness.
Simple yet wonderfully original, Sideways is a human comedy/drama gem. Director Payne and his co-writer Taylor don't deal in gimmicks or trickery to sell their movie, they are concerned about characters, flawed characters that all of us can identify with. There's no need for grand standing, either from the characters or the actors playing them, this is earthy realism coming from an America far removed from the crash bang and wallop multiplex offerings that often coin it in at the box office. All of the four principal characters here are deftly drawn, they are interesting and likable, even when doing, in the case of Jack and Miles, stupid things. They have our attention completely, even tugging away at the heart strings as we find ourselves laughing at the often absurdity of the emotive human condition.
This is thoughtful and well observed stuff, boosted considerably by four terrific performances, with Giamatti giving one of the best performances of the year. If you haven't seen it yet then let it in to your life, enjoy, preferably with a fine wine. You will feel all the better for the experience. 9/10