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| Sideways (2004)
 
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh Director: Alexander Payne Rating: R Category: Comedy  |
In the eve of a season filled with ambitious Oscar hopefuls that wouldn’t stand a chance against past losers, Alexander Payne’s “Sideways” is a refreshing glass of cinematic brilliance that supersedes the usual Hollywood fodder in place of a simple story that is filled to the brim with relatable characters and classy wine. Based on the novel by Rex Pickett and starring an incredible cast of B-list actors, “Sideways” is a darkly comical and courageous journey of two ordinary middle-aged men whose only aspirations are to move forward in life.
Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a failed novelist and recent divorcee who teaches middle-school English and spends his spare time as a wine-connoisseur. His knowledge of wine is impeccable, and although he could probably make a career of it, he is far too obsessed with his other faults to make a difference. Jack (Thomas Hayden Church), a failed actor most known for his short stint on a daytime soap, has finally taken the dive into marriage and has devoted his last week of freedom to a planned road trip with best friend Miles through the wine country of California. As they embark on their week-long trip, Miles is intent on showing Jack a good time of wine-tasting, golf and lounging around, but Jack is also determined to get laid one last time and he’s not about to let Miles ruin all of his fun. After running into Maya (Virginia Madsen), a sexy waitress with an eye for Miles, and her wild friend Stephanie (Sandra Oh), Jack invites the two girls out for a night with the hope of scoring and helping his friend get over the emotional divorce from two years prior.
“Sideways” plays out a lot like the cult favorite, “Swingers,” probably the only other successful film devoted to the topic of male bonding. While the road trip in “Swingers” isn’t as involving as it is in “Sideways,” both films are essentially about relationships, though the latter film tends to shed more humanity on the subject. “Sideways” is also a much more seasoned film when it comes to the wisdom that appears in the script, and where “Swingers” was targeted towards the younger crowd, “Sideways” is more suitable for men 30-50.
Paul Giamatti is probably one of the most talented actors in the business today and it is a complete joy that the studio wasn’t afraid to sacrifice a little box office profit for the perfect performance. Giamatti is everything Hollywood isn’t (ordinary, average-looking and slightly fat) and that is why he is able to represent the everyday man so well. Church is just as entertaining as Miles' on-screen pal, but don’t expect him to be up for any awards. Giamatti, on the other hand, is long overdue for an Oscar after his brilliant performance in last year’s “American Splendor,” and director Alexander Payne, who has struck gold for the third time in a row (following up his American satires “Election” and “About Schmidt”), should also be recognized for his keen filmmaking. “Sideways” is one of those great American films you always hear about, but rarely see. Just like a glass of wine, it requires fine inspection and admiration, so drink it slowly and experience its excellence.
DVD Review:
I would have thought that given the immeasurable amount of press given to “Sideways” during award season that making its way to DVD wouldn’t be nearly as hard, or as painful. Don’t get me wrong here, the single-disc release of the much-nominated dramedy gives the film its rightful debut on DVD, but couldn’t we have seen a little bit more a little bit sooner? Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen (this is not the film to slack off and accidentally buy the full screen version on) and a 5.1 Dolby Digital, “Sideways” looks and sounds just as good as it did in theaters.
Headlining the special features section of the disc is an absolutely amazing audio commentary with actors Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church. The sincere camaraderie between the two guys definitely shows in the hilarious commentary that’s so good it could probably win an Oscar all on its own. Following the commentary are seven deleted scenes introduced with notes by director Alexander Payne, a short behind-the-scenes featurette on the film’s characters and cinematography, and the theatrical trailer. There’s nothing else worth mentioning, even though the DVD case states that there is more bonus material to be found. Regardless of the disc’s weak extras, “Sideways” is the first DVD of the year that you simply can’t be without.Cherish the film for it's incredible heart and humor and don't forget to check out one of the best audio commentaries ever recorded.
~Jason Zingale
jzingale@bullz-eye.com