Sideways Reviews

A real treat

A road-trip through wine country becomes a voyage of self-discovery for a pair of mismatched buddies in 'Sideways', the latest film from Alexander Payne and unquestionably one of the finest American films of the year

Paul Giamatti takes the lead role of Miles, a teacher and failed novelist in his early forties who has barely come through a painful divorce. He is depressed, filled with self-loathing and has developed a fascination with wine which is teetering on the brink of full-blown alcoholism. Miles' friend Jack is about to get married so he and Miles head out on their 'stag week'. Miles has planned seven days of wine-tasting, golf, good food and relaxation, but Jack has other things on his mind. He simply wants to have as much sex as possible before he commits to one woman.

When Jack hooks up with bartender Stephanie(Sandra Oh) they embark on a one-night stand which develops into a whirlwind romance. But Miles finds it harder to open up and reveal his true feelings for Maya(Virginia Madsen) a divorced waitress who he has admired from a distance for years.

'Sideways' is a perfectly pitched, hilarious and moving film which never falters. Payne and his regular writing partner Jim Taylor have crafted a first-rate screenplay from Rex Pickett's novel, deceptively simple but containing many depths and layers which reveal themselves throughout the film. This is also the best directed film that Payne has made yet, perfectly paced and constantly moving smoothly from knockabout humour to genuine pathos.

However, the real reason 'Sideways' is so successful is down to the performances of its four leads. Church, Madsen and Sandra Oh are superb, all giving the best performances of their career, but this is Giamatti's show. As he did in last year's 'American Splendour' he has managed to take a very unlikeable character and elicit our sympathy and understanding. Miles is neurotic, self-obsessed and prone to throwing tantrums but Giamatti exposes his soul and makes us desperate for his relationship with the wonderful Maya work out. It is a subtle, funny, moving and utterly compelling performance and the Academy should be ashamed for ignoring his incredible feats for the second year in a row

You won't see many better films than this for some time. 'Sideways' is a triumph, a sublime piece of work which rings true from first minute to last. This film showcases one of American cinema's brightest young talents at the top of his game and we can only hope that, like a fine wine, Payne improves with age.

Don't believe the hype

The advertising spin and trailers for this film suggest a work of genius - in reality it's a mediocre and slightly pretentious road movie. It had strong appeal to hollywood and the US critics for delivering a quasi-european arthouse style.

I watched it with others from the 'target' audience group and we were left cold.

Watch it but don't expect too much.

intelligent and witty

This film really took me by surprise. I knew nothing about it except that its about 2 men spending a week driving around california's wine region - it couldn't sound more boring if it tried. But thankfully its anything but. This isn't 'for middle aged men and wine lovers' as one reviewer suggests - I know nothing about wine and I'm certainly not a middle aged man! This is an intelligent, witty drama with a well-written central character and his loathsome, yet for some reason endearing, friend. You often won't like the main characters - but thats sort of the point, this isn't hollywood shmooze, this is real life observational drama. This film is about 'normal' people doing 'normal' things...it just happens that the main character is obsessed by wine, but it could easily have been something completely different, it really isn't about that. This is about friendship, love, fear and new beginnings. Its very relaxed, its very easy going and its blatantly made on a shoestring - it really goes to prove that to make a good film you only need a few good actors and a corker of a script. Fans of Woody Allen will appreciate this film, fans of Frasier will appreciate this film, fans of Jean Claude Van-Damme really won't.

Why don't I get it?

I really wanted to like this film. This film was going to be in my list of all-time greats; an overlooked gem that dazzled with it's wit and wry observations. This film was going to grow old with me and like a fine wine, just get better and better. So why didn't I get it? I've been around the block, seen a bit of life, loved, laughed, lost, loved again, had a minor drink problem, blah blah blah- so I foolishly thought I knew where this film was coming from. Then it twigged. They were all AMERICANS. What a bunch of tossers. This film will put me right off my Liebfraumilch.

A road-movie stroke voyage-of-discovery, this has a great turn from Paul Giamatti (we've all heard the jaws thunking to the floor in astonishment when he wasn't nommed for an Oscar, and I agree) and sterling support from Church, Madsen and Oh. Payne's movie is another step up from 'About Schmidt' and seals his reputation as one of the finest new talents around. His films are reminiscent of Seventies fare like Five Easy Pieces - all subtle tics, character-driven storylines and beautifully framed shots. Giamatti is excellent as Miles, a miserable-yet-loveable failed writer, and Church's performance as a flabby, past-his-prime lothario desperate to go out on a high before his nuptials is equally impressive. The story arc is nothing new - two buddies on one last tear-up (if wine drinking can be called that) discover there's more to themselves and life than they realised - but the journey is an enjoyable one. Pass the Merlot, then... (or not, as the case may be).