Sideways

Movies that delve deeply into the muck of human emotion and drama usually do not interest me much; I tend to watch movies for escapism; in other words I want to be entertained, I don't want to have to think too much about what I am watching. Hey, I'm a man and I choose my intellectual stimulation carefully and in measured doses, thank you. But occasionally, just occasionally I will sit through a movie that seeks to tell a purely human story, even if it's drawn out and at times overly simplistic and formulaic.

Sideways was the breakout Independent film of 2004, a film that saw character actor Paul Giamatti play the leading man. And it is a film that vastly inflated the flagging career of Virginia Madsen, and furthered the career of Sandra Oh, who looks softer and more beautiful in this film than I have ever seen her.

The Story

Directed by Alexander Payne (Sandra Oh's estranged husband), the plot of Sideways is simple enough: middle-aged "B" actor Jack portrayed by Thomas Hayden Church (3000 Miles to Graceland, Spanglish) is engaged to be married in a week to Christine, a woman with a wealthy pedigree. Jack's college roommate and depressed divorced friend, and wine connoisseur Miles portrayed by Paul Giamtti (Deconstructing Harry, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan) is taking him on a week long trip through California's wine country to spend so "guy" time together before the "I Do's."

But, while Miles is looking forward to a week of wine tasting up and down the San Fernando Valley, Jack is looking to sow his wild oats one last time before getting hitched. Miles is a known quantity in the "Valley" having made many a trip there with his ex-wife Victoria. At a restaurant Miles frequents we meet Maya portrayed by Virginia Madsen (Dune, The Hot Spot, Ghosts of Mississippi), a waitress who has an eye on Miles, and he on her.

And Jack quickly (too quickly) finds what he is after in the form of wine maiden Stephanie portrayed by Sandra Oh (Full Frontal, Big Fat Liar, Under The Tuscan Sun). It just so happens, Stephanie knows Maya, and the four come together for dinner and the fun begins; quickly for Jack and Stephanie, not so quickly for Miles and Maya. More of the plot I will not discuss; needless to say it's a wild ride with not a view twists and turns thrown in to hold our attention, and add a few laughs to the mix.

My Observations

All of the principles do a superb job on this film; but after viewing it I don't see what all the fuss was about; Sideways could just as easily have been a television movie of the week. I have to admit though that I did find myself drawn in by all the talk of wine, a subject I am woefully ignorant of. At the end of the film I felt decidedly less cosmopolitan and in need of an education on wine, which probably goes a long way in explaining the vastly increased interest American showed in California wines after Sideways hit theaters. And I love the shot a California wine country with it lush vineyards and rolling hills. If it were not for the fact that California with its clueless celebrity Governor, high taxes, high cost of living, and higher housing costs, is such an undesirable place to live right now, I would pack my bags tomorrow and move to the Valley.

In the end Sideways was an enjoyable film and unlike most ending, I found this one very agreeable indeed. While I am glad I did not spend $8.50 to see the movie in theatrical release, watching it on HBO or DVD on a Saturday night is right up my alley, and I have to admit much more relaxing.

Sideways had it moments of deep intellectual reflection interspersed with commonplace human shallowness which made the movie all the more enjoyable, but not earth shatteringly so. My recommendation: grab your mate, a couple of glasses, a chilled bottle of wine (whatever vintage), a block of Colby cheese and settle down in front of the tube and watch Sideways, which after all is said and done is a satisfying movie.