 | Things start off quietly when unpublished novelist Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his old buddy Jack (Thomas Haden Church) decide to spend the final week before Jack's wedding on a tour of California's Santa Ynez wine country. While afficionado Miles sees the trip as a good opportunity to educate his friend in the subtleties of wine appreciation, Jack decides this is his last opportunity to sow his wild oats and cut loose. Complications ensue as Jack gets involved with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), and Miles tries to rationalise the attentions of fellow enophile Maya (the gorgeous Virginia Madsen) while nervously awaiting a phone call from his publisher.
Sideways was billed as a movie about wine and love, and while the vineyards of California are indeed a romantic setting, the grape and it's appreciation are no more than a colorful backdrop to this intelligent, witty & poignant depiction of friendship & fidelity. Following the recent spate of twenty-something, coming-of-age, road-trip movies, it's refreshing to see a more down-to-earth treatment using characters who are past the first flush of youth and grappling with all the frustrations & follies that such a perspective brings.
Regarding the DVD commentary track, I'm a fan of these things because when they're done well they provide a wonderful perspective on the production & characterisations. Sideways' commentary track features the two leads, Giamatti & Church, and at first it seems like these guys are going to spend the next two hours simply jerking around, but after a while they both calm down and display much wit & intelligence while recollecting their experiences on the set & providing a warm insight into this highly recommended movie.
Note: perhaps the only film to depress Merlot sales while raising those of Pinot Noir.
Review: Ross Elliot
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