A Review by Phil Calabro
***HIGHLY RECOMMENDED***
*** #4 - TOP 10 IN 2004 ***
2004, Fox Searchlight, Dir. Alexander Payne - Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht, Missy Doty, M.C. Gainey, Alysia Reiner, Shake Tukhmanyan, Duke Moosekian
'Sideways' is probably the most successful blend of comedy styles recently: it simultaneously features the buddy-comedy, the romantic-comedy, the slapstick-comedy, and the intellectual-comedy all into one - just another reason why this has been the most raved film of 2004. But what makes it so special? Its intense love for wine tasting and metaphorical aspects to our characters? The chemistry between our protagonists? Or is it just that the film simply makes its point and has a good old time presenting itself? I'd pick the latter myself. The beauty of the film is that it feels so thoughtful without ever trying too hard, probably making the most comfortable film to watch this year. True, it has a great knowledge of wine, but it never leaves the audience to assume that it has some sort of deeper meaning. It's just two guys on a road trip to the valleys to learn more about their lives, their loves, and themselves. Connoisseurs say that wine betters itself as it ages. Methinks in the future, this film will be at the top of my rack. 'Sideways' is a delightful and simplistic comedy that all will find hilarious and insightful - one of this year's best.
A week before his wedding, Jack (Church) and his best friend Miles Raymond (Giamatti) go on a road trip into Northern California to go on a wine-tasting hunt. Along the way, Miles tries to teach his friend the basics to tasting, as well as the techniques of fermentation - but Jack's only desire to have sex as much as possible before his marriage on Sunday. He wants Miles to get some action, especially since he has been in deep depression since his latest book won't get published and his recent divorce with wife Victoria (Hecht). But thankfully for them, Miles meets a recently divorced waitress named Maya (Madsen) who is very interested in Miles, but he doesn't have the guts to make a relationship with her - despite constant haranguing from Jack. Meanwhile, Jack falls in love with a smart wine dealer named Stephanie, and he begins to question his own marriage. They begin falling into various obstacles, and helping each other dodge them - learning about themselves along the way.
The most redeeming features of the film are the two main actors, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Giamatti, whose role in last year's 'American Splendor' was possibly the best of 2003, has struck gold once again with another 4-star performance as the neurotic, depressed sadsack Miles Raymond. We know he is a money-grubbing loser trying to cope with his self-inflicted failure (watch him stealing money from his mother is enough of a reason), but we realize that he is rough shape, and still accept him as the film's hero. His grumbly and cranky demeanor illuminates every scene, setting him into perfect contrast with the gruff and sexually-driven soap actor Jack. His abrasive and taunting methods of getting Miles to cut loose seems to give a whole lot of laughs for the audience, as well as establish a very odd bond with his best friend. Together, they are a modern Laurel and Hardy, putting up with one another's directly opposite behavior, but still friends to the end. The female roles, Maya and Stephanie, are not forced into the plot as they normally are, but are incredibly essential. The chemistry between Maya and Miles wins the award for most realistic relationship of the year - simply for not hitting it off immediately, but taking its time to lead into love. It starts off plain vanilla at the beginning, but blends into something quite real at the end.
It's hard to say whether director Alexander Payne wanted this to be a serious film in the end, because I laughed a lot more than I imagined. Payne, a wine specialist himself, finds great joy in making the hobby a factor in the thematic values. The similes between relationships, aging wine and personality seem to intertwine every now and then, especially with Miles' love for Pinot, but hate for Merlot - because of their tastes and consistencies. Also, the director has a great time substituting typical situations for extensive slapstick comedy - a scene when Miles must break into the house of a fat waitress, in the process of intercourse with her equally fat husband, to retrieve Jack's wallet. Instead of feeling like an interrupted excuse to throw in some excessive nudity and humor, it feels just right to lighten the premises.
'Sideways' is an intelligent film that can and should be viewed by all. It has A-list qualities with B-list celebrities, who pull off an outstanding job nevertheless. When I speak of a film being good without excessive violence, nudity, and profanity - this is a prime example. It is a feel-good, fun-and-fancy-free film for most everyone.
