"Fine wines, hilarious misfortunes"
review of Sideways (2004)- Alexander Payne
What happens when you combine a depressed wine connoisseur and a television commercial actor who is in the midst of a mid-life crisis? Two hours of non-stop hilarity. Under the direction and production of Alexander Payne (Election, King of California), the novel Sideways by Rex Pickett is brought to life. Paul Giamatti (Miles), Thomas Haden Church (Jack), Sandra Oh (Stephanie), and Virginia Madsen (Maya) star in this hilarious story of life, love, and wine that redefines the term comedy.
Miles, a struggling writer, and Jack, a middle-aged actor, leave their worries behind and throw all inhibitions to the wind as they depart on a week long vacation in celebration of Jack's upcoming marriage. This journey of personal enlightenment provides a visual perspective of what the novel is all about. Proving to be one of my favorite film adaptations of a novel, 'Sideways' brilliantly portrays the lives of Miles and Jack in only a week's time.
While some fans and critics panned this film that pushed the envelope of depressing comedy, I found it to be one of the most character involved comedies in the past 15 years. Film goers who got out of the film two guys in search of nothing but sex, need to give this film another viewing. The character involvement that intertwines Miles, Jack, Stephanie and Maya make this a brilliant story of complexity and unpredictability.
Paul Giamatti is a phenomenal actor, who portrays his finest role as Miles in Sideways. Giamatti's character Miles experiences joy, depression, and heartache during a time of personal growth. Even though the viewer expects a happy ending for troubled Miles, we get to see the long road he travels in search of enlightenment.
Not only was Sideways robbed of the Academy Award for Best Picture, but Giamatti was robbed for best actor as well. Alexander Payne certainly put his mark on the comedy genre with Sideways. I am looking forward to what else he has in store for us off-beat movie goers.
Love, hate, depression, happiness, beauty, and brilliant underlying themes make Sideways a solid 9/10.
What happens when you combine a depressed wine connoisseur and a television commercial actor who is in the midst of a mid-life crisis? Two hours of non-stop hilarity. Under the direction and production of Alexander Payne (Election, King of California), the novel Sideways by Rex Pickett is brought to life. Paul Giamatti (Miles), Thomas Haden Church (Jack), Sandra Oh (Stephanie), and Virginia Madsen (Maya) star in this hilarious story of life, love, and wine that redefines the term comedy.
Miles, a struggling writer, and Jack, a middle-aged actor, leave their worries behind and throw all inhibitions to the wind as they depart on a week long vacation in celebration of Jack's upcoming marriage. This journey of personal enlightenment provides a visual perspective of what the novel is all about. Proving to be one of my favorite film adaptations of a novel, 'Sideways' brilliantly portrays the lives of Miles and Jack in only a week's time.
While some fans and critics panned this film that pushed the envelope of depressing comedy, I found it to be one of the most character involved comedies in the past 15 years. Film goers who got out of the film two guys in search of nothing but sex, need to give this film another viewing. The character involvement that intertwines Miles, Jack, Stephanie and Maya make this a brilliant story of complexity and unpredictability.
Paul Giamatti is a phenomenal actor, who portrays his finest role as Miles in Sideways. Giamatti's character Miles experiences joy, depression, and heartache during a time of personal growth. Even though the viewer expects a happy ending for troubled Miles, we get to see the long road he travels in search of enlightenment.
Not only was Sideways robbed of the Academy Award for Best Picture, but Giamatti was robbed for best actor as well. Alexander Payne certainly put his mark on the comedy genre with Sideways. I am looking forward to what else he has in store for us off-beat movie goers.
Love, hate, depression, happiness, beauty, and brilliant underlying themes make Sideways a solid 9/10.
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