Sideways (2004)

Director: Alexander Payne

Paul Giamatti ... Miles
Thomas Haden Church ... Jack
Virginia Madsen ... Maya
Sandra Oh ... Stephanie


Freedom at last! Only once in a while do you come across a movie that makes you smile and frown, just the right amount. Sideways is the movie that your doctor ordered to relax you and give you a fresh perspective on what we are doing. This is not Citizen Kane, nor is it Lord of The Rings. There is no gloss, no special effect, just an honest story to tell. Paul Giammatti is Miles, a less than perfect, emotionally turned-off "Hero", who is quite content on his own way to lead a life of nothingness.

This is, till he takes a trip with Jack (Thomas Haden Church in a winning performance) and ends up in the California Wine County. The story is quite simple and even a line or two about it will give it away completely. However, the effortless performance of Paul makes this movie worthwhile. I only wish this movie had a more to offer for Virginia Madsen, who I think is a powerhouse performer with the right script. Sandra Oh actually had a better defined character and gives a controlled performance.

For my money this will make an excellent double-bill with "A Good Year". Everything is what it seems in this movie. However, this doesn’t necessarily spoil the fun, because even as you watch it, the fates of the characters become more important to you than a Perry Mason twist. You actually hope that the movie ends just the way it has been going... smoothly. This does not happen, though, and that is the only failing of this movie. Paul's realization and the eventual end of the movie look labored. For a talkie, the end of the movie is too silent to satisfy the range of emotions that it is able to arouse.

All said, it is still better than all the glitter that Hollywood has been throwing at us in the name of movies. This is a quite movie with heart and genuine emotions, real life characters and some amazing scenery. I give it a 9 out of 10. I take 1 away just for the last 5 minutes. And oh, Did I tell you - if you're looking for Academy Award potential performace watch the performance of Paul Giammatti.