Sideways

Probably the best film from 2004 and another for my Top Ten which may have run into the teens in a somewhat strange fashion. It's the most generic method ever to simply take two characters that are very different, put them together and watch the hilarity, but this film is so much smarter than that. We've been both of these characters at different moments of our lives and they illustrate the plight and misery of all men, regardless of circumstance.

Miles (Giamatti)is a self destructive writer fresh off of divorce, clinging to the hope that his recently finished novel will sell and therefor make everything else in his life, seem that much better... Or perhaps just a little less shit. Miles is taking his long time friend Jack (Hayden Church) on a Wine tasting get away in the vineyards of Santa Ynez Valley. Jack is an actor with a sexual appetite that refuses to compromise with his impending marriage and all that this commitment entails. Jack is on the hunt for fresh flavour while Miles wishes to recreate moments of comfort and familiarity. We are given a glimpse of their differences early on when Miles stops by to pick up Jack and is asked to sample two different types of Wedding cake. One of them is light, one of them is dark. If pressed to make a decision, Miles chooses the dark, oh, yes he certainly does.

Before they begin their week, Miles takes Jack on a small detour to see his mother on her birthday. After getting annoyed at her constant meddling in his (ex) marital affairs and complimenting his friend ot the point of embarrassment, Miles believes he has received enough crap to justify stealing a healthy amount of money from his mother's underwear draw. The scene is nicely capped off by his mother asking if he needs some money... oops.



Finally arriving in wine country, Miles hesitantly points out Maya (Virginia Madsen)to Jack. She seems very pleased to see Miles and Jack is not surprised by this, he sees the good qualities in Miles and wishes his somewhat negative friend would attempt to do the same. Still before long he has his own agenda, Maya's friend Stephanie (Sandra Oh) who is a single mother with an appreciation for Jack's more care free approach to life.

What follows is a hysterical exploration of sex, deceit, friendship, a naked trip through an ostrich farm, golf course violence, disappointment, heartbreak and a lot of laughs. The running metaphor of wine is climaxed beautifully in a scene between Miles and Maya. Miles tell us the reason why he likes Pinot Noir so much, it has to be coached and encouraged to reach it's full potential, it can't be rushed and much patience is needed to see the beauty it has to offer.



Miles is a painful character to watch. We watch as he reaches several conversational crossroads and can see he has the ability to make the right choice displaying his many positive qualities, but time and time again we are subjected to him running scared into the familiarity and comfort of misery and failure. It would be rather depressing if it wasn't so funny. "Did you drink and dial?" Jack humorously asks after Miles gives us a display of self-pitying at the restaurant. Moments before they went in there Jack anticipates the fuck up and warns him not to ruin the night. It's at this point that Miles barks the quote of the film at his friend.

I am NOT drinking any FUCKING MERLOT!!!

Having read the book and loved it, I can honestly say that this film does more than do the story, characters and everything about it absolute justice. The type of colour the film is shot in is a distinctive one and really adds to the beauty of the Wine country these two characters embark upon. An absolutely classic film that really shouldn't be missed by anyone.