Sideways

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » December 6, 2004, 12:43 pm

I saw this movie on Saturday night. This movie is an absolute must see. If I had to choose one single word to describe this movie... Sublime.

The movie stars Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Private Parts) and Thomas Hayden Church (Lowell from Wings, Ned from Ned and Stacey). This is the story of two men who are the best of friends and have absolutely nothing in common.

The premise of the movie is that it is one week before Jack (Church) is going to get married. As a gift to Jack, Miles (Giamatti) is going to take him for a week long drive through California's wine country for some good wine, good food, good golf...to send him off to marital bliss. But like I said earlier, they are complete opposites.

Jack is a former soap heartthrob that hasn't had a good gig in over 10 years. He now mainly does voiceovers and commercials. He is pretty shallow and is looking to bed whomever he can on this weeklong trip with his best friend from college, Miles.

Miles is a high school English teacher that has been trying desperately to get his 750 page novel published for years now. He is also an avid wine connoisseur. He was divorced two years ago but is still in love with his ex wife...and he has not so much as looked at another woman in those two years.

Jack wants to introduce "fun" back into Miles' life this week. Both have very different ideas of what fun should be. Miles could spend 10 minutes tasting a single sip of wine and musing over the subtle flavors and tones. Jack could spend 10 minutes guzzling down the most expensive bottle of wine (or the cheapest) and not know the difference.

The two female characters in the movie are played by Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. They do wonderful work.

Everyone in this movie has been hurt and is carrying around a LOT of emotional baggage. It is the relationship between Miles and Jack that really pull you into this movie. Most writers would have to use an entire book to convey the emotional realism that Paul Giamatti can do in two minutes with just his facial expressions.

I do not own very many DVDs (around 20) and I am fairly picky about what movies I purchase. I will purchase this when it is released on DVD.

Regards,

Moon

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » December 27, 2004, 1:17 pm

The wife and I saw this last evening and I have to agree, what an excellent movie. We cracked open a bottle afterwards, but I'm sure it's considered swill to Giamatti

.

He is just such a great actor, it's scary. It's so effortless for him to make you laugh just as much as it is to make you feel sorry for him.

Saab + Tree =

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » December 31, 2004, 3:29 am

Yeah, its a toss up between the saab/tree part and the FUCK MERLOT part.

very funny movie

Post by **Sylvus** » March 3, 2005, 12:40 pm

I finally saw this last night and I agree, it was quite good. Often kind of sad and funny at the same times.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » March 3, 2005, 3:41 pm

It was sad at times. I think I can relate to both characters really well. I am more like Miles than Jack...but I did get married to someone I knew was wrong for me..and I knew it was a mistake...but I did it because it was expected and safe. So in that sense, I really could feel for Jack...

I think this was a little gem of a film...one that I will own on DVD...and I am very particular about which DVDs I own.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » March 26, 2005, 11:45 pm

Good movie. There's nothing I didn't like about it.

10/10

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » April 5, 2005, 2:21 pm

Out on DVD today by the way. Pick it up on you way home!

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » April 5, 2005, 2:24 pm

Already bought it, along with Elektra. Yeah, yeah, Elektra is going to suck, I know

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » April 6, 2005, 12:15 am

sounded good until i heard the initial review here, sounds like a chick flick...i hate it when fucking comedys have "sad" dramatical parts, like robin williams movies, noone cares

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » April 6, 2005, 12:54 am

Edit omg!

But seriously, when I think comedy I think Three Stooges or Dumb and Dumber. This is more than that. Not sure I'd classify it as a chick flick. But if you'd let something like that stop you from seeing it, yeah... There's not enough stuff being blown up in it!

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » April 6, 2005, 7:52 am

Aslanna wrote:Edit omg!

But seriously, when I think comedy I think Three Stooges or Dumb and Dumber. This is more than that. Not sure I'd classify it as a chick flick. But if you'd let something like that stop you from seeing it, yeah... There's not enough stuff being blown up in it!

im not looking for that, when i think comedy i think old school or office space, i dont really want to see some dude crying for 30 minutes because his wife found a new boyfriend, godamn "lifetime drama" movies piss me off

Post by **Sylvus** » April 6, 2005, 10:55 am

I'd recommend not watching the movie, it's not a chick flick but you probably aren't intelligent enough to enjoy it. You're kind of a retard.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » April 6, 2005, 11:29 am

Sylvus wrote:I'd recommend not watching the movie, it's not a chick flick but you probably aren't intelligent enough to enjoy it. You're kind of a retard.

Fucking amen!

Brotha · Post by **Brotha** » April 8, 2005, 1:29 am

Just watched this movie, I highly recommend it.

It's not a chick flick. The relationship with

[Show]: Maya

was just a subplot really.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 11, 2005, 2:58 pm

Give me more movies like this one.

Sideways is a must see if you are over 25-28ish or a little wiser than the average person below that age. (Xzions of the world need not waste their hard earned allowance)

I started watching it around 2am last night to see what it was like and ended up staying up until past 4am. I don't like overly depressing movies and was waiting for something bad to happen but the entire movie was handled well with nothing extreme needed to cover up a director's lack of storytelling. The lost rings part was a bit extreme but didn't take away from the movie at all.

The dialog is on another level when compared to most movies. I try not to categorize anything by age but for this particular movie, you need to have some life experience that only comes over time and therefore it may not be fully appreciated by some through no fault of their own.

I give it a 95/100

It misses the perfect mark because I disagree with a critique of one of the wines in the movie!

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » April 11, 2005, 3:30 pm

Fuck Merlot!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » April 11, 2005, 3:46 pm

Are you chewing gum?

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » May 29, 2005, 6:08 am

Finally saw this tonight. Pretty good, was expecting a little more out of it. It's funny... I found both main characters totally despicable. The scene in his mother's bedroom... I'm still feeling put off by that.

That being said, I have a total crush for Sandra Oh now.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » May 29, 2005, 6:11 am

Dregor Thule wrote:Finally saw this tonight. Pretty good, was expecting a little more out of it. It's funny... I found both main characters totally despicable. The scene in his mother's bedroom... I'm still feeling put off by that.

That being said, I have a total crush for Sandra Oh now.

eat shit and die. This movie was perfect.