- Sideways (2004)

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Sideways (2004)

Feb 19, '05 9:55 PM
for everyone

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

I thought “Sideways” was an excellent movie. Miles (Paul Giamatti), a wine connoisseur, talks his friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) into taking a trip through wine country as sort of "bachelor party" before Jack gets married. Miles is a depressed teacher and is dealing with issues after a failed marriage. He just wants to hang out with his friend and teach him about wine and more importantly drink wine. Jack just wants to meet women and have a fling before he gets married. The movie is filled with a lot comedy as well as drama. It’s an interesting journey in self-discovery for both of them. I think Paul Giamatti was amazing as Miles. He doesn’t have to say a word and you can feel everything he is thinking. He’s a deeply flawed character but you like him and hope he’ll find a way to pull himself together. I think the rest of the cast (Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen) also gave great performances.

The movie also made me really want to go on another vacation exploring wine country and learn more about wine.

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12 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

jillpaden wrote on Feb 22, '05

I was surprised I didn't like this film more. I think I had a hard time dealing with the characters' flaws--Jack's infidelity and treatment of Oh's character, and the down and out depression of Miles. What Miles does to his mother was pathetic--got me off on the wrong foot with the film. Their performances were great; I guess I just didn't like the characters.

So, what's your choice for Best Picture? I finally got around to seeing all the Best Picture nominees. My choice is Million Dollar Baby, though I think The Aviator will win.

tracy wrote on Feb 22, '05

jillpaden said

My choice is still Million Dollar Baby. I think I've seen all of the nominees except for Finding Neverland (that's up right?)

I certainly wouldn't expect Sideways to win the oscar even though I liked it a lot. I really thought Million Dollar Baby, Aviator and Ray were all amazing movies, but I'd have to say Million Dollar Baby is the one that moved me the most so I hope it wins best picture.

debbie wrote on Feb 22, '05

tracy said

I haven't seen the others, but I can't believe we are so far apart on our impressions of Million Dollar Baby... I liked it, but thought it was just ordinary.

tracy wrote on Feb 22, '05

debbie said

I haven't seen the others, but I can't believe we are so far apart on our impressions of Million Dollar Baby... I liked it, but thought it was just ordinary.

Yes, I was surprised too! Maybe you were expecting something different?

ethbay wrote on Feb 23, '05

Hey, Tracy, maybe you'd enjoy Maddox's take on the movie. I thought it was funny. I haven't seen the film, and I'm not a wine buff, but I'm amazed at how much I've been hearing about it.

kayt wrote on Feb 23, '05

ethbay said

Hey, Tracy, maybe you'd enjoy Maddox's take on the movie. I thought it was funny. I haven't seen the film, and I'm not a wine buff, but I'm amazed at how much I've been hearing about it.

Oh goodness. I have not seen the movie, but for the record, I have to say I prefer Pinot Noir to Merlot. But that's mostly because I have a glass of wine at a restaurant before I order my meal and don't want to have to switch wines midstream. (Pinot Noir is an acceptable red wine to drink with chicken or pork as well as pasta dishes and beef).

Really, I'm not fashionable or a copycat. I'm just cheap and more likely to puke if I mix my wines. =)

debbie wrote on Feb 23, '05

tracy said

Yes, I was surprised too! Maybe you were expecting something different?

It was either I found it so predictable, or figured Eastwood couldn't think of where else to go with the story line, so he added the tragedy. I don't know what would have made it better for me, but IMO it lacked originality and took on a Terms of Endearment, or Steel Magnolias kind of feel. And like I said in my review, I just don't get the appeal some see in Clint Eastwood.

I really wanted to like the movie, but it just didn't do it for me...

escauburn wrote on Mar 3, '05

I loved Sideways

debbie wrote on May 6, '05

Just finished watching this film. I really liked it, too.

sujewel wrote on May 7, '05

debbie said

Just finished watching this film. I really liked it, too.

Excellent movie. I recently saw it as well. I wasn't really certain what to expect. Sometimes Paul Giamatti plays roles in campy movies, so I wasn't certain if it was my type of movie, but I thought it was wonderful and entertaining.

debbie wrote on May 7, '05

sujewel said

The only problem was watching it with Lauren =\... It made watching the sex scenes a bit uncomfortable!

sujewel wrote on May 10, '05

debbie said

The only problem was watching it with Lauren =\... It made watching the sex scenes a bit uncomfortable!

I can imagine. My parents used to make me close my eyes. I

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