SIDEWAYS REVIEW

Hi, Dave Canfield from Imagine 'Dat! here to introduce a newbie. His name is Jim Tudor and he's been writing for Imagine 'Dat! for quite awhile. I'll be posting his reviews alongside my own. He's a good writer and a fast thinker and he'd love to get your feedback which you can send through me.

Look for Tudor Brand comic reviews, film reviews and DVD reviews in the very near future.

Til then enjoy his review of Sideways.

SIDEWAYS
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Written & directed by Alexander Payne
123 minutes. Rated R for language, some strong sexual content and nudity.

Upon exiting this fine film about midlife anxieties amid a wine tasting trip, there were many things to discuss, but the topic that drew the most immediate discussion amongst my colleagues was the title. Yes, it’s true that “Sideways” may not be the best title in the world for “Sideways”, but on the other hand, it’s not the worst either. The film is about two middle-aged longtime friends who have made it this far, but with sadly little to show for it. One of the men, Miles, is a failed author who gets by putting up a convincing façade of a refined yuppie. He truly has a passion for fine wine, and enjoys a good game of golf, but when it comes right down to it, Miles is a depressed, neurotic bum. His good friend Jack is getting married next weekend, so Miles takes him on a weeklong wine & golf trip to celebrate. The only thing is, the guys never took their own conditions into account when planning this trip. Between Jack’s philandering man-child tendencies, and Miles’ inability to get over his divorce of two years, this isn’t a road movie that goes from start to finish like most; no, it does indeed go sideways – for lack of a better description.

Paul Giamatti, the guy who blew minds and drew acclaim with his lead performance in last year’s “American Splendor”, does it again with his portrayal of Miles. Oscar talk for him is not out of the realm of possibility, especially considering that many feel he was overlooked for “Splendor” (which is still the better movie). Giamatti has a gift for playing down-on-their-luck shlubs, even ones who hide their shlubiness more effectively than others. Thomas Haden Church plays Jack, an actor of limited success, and a playboy so self-absorbed that he unthinkingly starts up new affairs with women he just met days before he’s scheduled to get married.

Both characters are clearly, greatly obsessed with themselves, and in some ways feed the other ones faults thus perpetuating this behavior, but ultimately, the good in their relationship seems to outweigh the bad. Jack does his best to help Miles put the past behind him, and see the forest for the trees with Maya (Virginia Madsen), a great match for Miles if only he’d care a little. Miles likewise does his best to steer Jack off of this ridiculous path of womanizing (most notably with the confident and sexy Stephanie, played by Sandra Oh), and to get him to appreciate the fact that he has a woman who loves him waiting back home. Each has what the other wants in terms of female relationship freedom and/or stability, and of course neither is ever happy.

All this psychological character studying may sound pretty serious, and not a lot of fun, but truth be told, “Sideways” is a good time from start to finish – if you’re into grown-up character study types of films. Writer/director Alexander Payne finally leaves his native Nebraska to stretch out and deliver this meandering yet precise story of the misadventures of Miles and Jack. This film may not have the Jack Nicholson star power of his previous film, “About Schmidt”, but it is almost its equal in terms of turning the magnifying glass on the quiet discontentment of older people in America, as well as the flawed nature of people in general. There are no choreographed fight scenes or firey explosions in “Sideways”, but audiences may be surprised, even shocked, at some of the unexpected oddball action that does occur. Payne, if he’s not there already, is certainly well on his way to entering that small circle of younger, highly talented and well-respected filmmakers this country has to offer. He directs “Sideways” masterfully though it may not appear so for viewers watching it for the first time, allowing the characters to breath and live their lives, while not allowing the proceedings to get bogged down in the snooty culture of grape growing and wine tasting.

So maybe “Sideways” isn’t the best, nor most compelling title for this film. Perhaps Payne could’ve taken a hint from one of the film clips he includes in one of his carefully placed unintrusive little flourishes, “The Grapes of Wrath”, and maybe gone with, say, “Wrath of the Grapes.” Or not. In any case, “Sideways” is a worthwhile film for adults who are thirsty for some good, engaging, believable human relations on screen. The fermentation of Miles and Jack is something you don’t have to be a cultured snob to enjoy.

-Jim Tudor
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON IMAGINE 'DAT!