When I finally saw Sideways, I didn't walk into the theater to see what all the fuss is about but instead I was expecting to finally see a movie featuring Paul Giamatti, playing Paul Giamatti, in a leading role. That's exactly what I've got and some more.
This is the story of two middle-aged high school buddies on a one week trip through California's wine country to "let loose" (=wine and women) just before one of them gets married. This is not your average "find yourself" road movie, the real story and message lies beneath and that requires some effort from the viewer.
The movie has a slightly dreamy and raw feel to it - the photography is slightly grainy and of soft contrast , sometimes paying homage to '70s cinema especially in the (few) scenes using split screen and through the wonderful soundtrack (so besides wine and women there's song here as well but again in a subtle and tasteful way) featuring an excellent piano/drums/bass trio with vibes, flute and strings. The soundtrack doesn't try to be "post modern" or "trendy retro" (nothing wrong with that either of course), this is simply great music and hits the right tone for the tragic comedy which it is.
This movie isn't for everyone as I mentioned above. I had to work my way into this film until I was able to extract a message. This is actually a good sign since I don't like films that shove the message down my throat. The movie contains lots of comments on our society, hypocrisy and midlife depression.
It might be a bit painful for some people (not excluding myself) to admit that they identify a lot with Paul Giamatti's Miles: not exactly Hollywood romantic lead looks, he can't stand himself, he is filled with self pity, negativism and cynicism, and when he finally shows some courage it is a rather subtle change - just like in real life.
The four leading roles (in fact every role down to the smallest bit) are perfectly cast and wonderfully acted. Thomas Hayden Church (more of him, please!) is delightful as the womanizer cheating on his soon-to-be wife at the same time trying everything to get his buddy laid. Jack (Hayden Church) is every bit as neurotic/psychotic, whining and self-absorbed as Miles, but he doesn't admit that to himself on a conscious level. There is a wonderful ambiguity to both male lead characters. The women, even though far from one-dimensional, play little more than support for the male leads with the focus firmly on Miles. The movie might have benefited from some more background story on the women - maybe revealed in a conversation between both woman alone, but that's just me rambling.
The end - which I will not give away here - is very satisfying and does not show how Miles (Giamatti) gets his whole messed up life back together, but a pretty good guess is that he is on the best way.
I am happy knowing that Paul Giamatti is on his way up. I was waiting for a movie like that for quite a while. He is way too good an actor (he almost stole and ran away with the 2000 movie "duets") to be limited to playing sidekicks such as in "Paycheck".
Writer/Director Alexander Payne didn't fall into the trap of getting too artsy, too much "Indie" or too "low brow" with this movie. Like the wines which are described in this movie, it takes some time to be appreciated for it is subtle and there is more to it than what meet the eye at a first glance.
This is the story of two middle-aged high school buddies on a one week trip through California's wine country to "let loose" (=wine and women) just before one of them gets married. This is not your average "find yourself" road movie, the real story and message lies beneath and that requires some effort from the viewer.
The movie has a slightly dreamy and raw feel to it - the photography is slightly grainy and of soft contrast , sometimes paying homage to '70s cinema especially in the (few) scenes using split screen and through the wonderful soundtrack (so besides wine and women there's song here as well but again in a subtle and tasteful way) featuring an excellent piano/drums/bass trio with vibes, flute and strings. The soundtrack doesn't try to be "post modern" or "trendy retro" (nothing wrong with that either of course), this is simply great music and hits the right tone for the tragic comedy which it is.
This movie isn't for everyone as I mentioned above. I had to work my way into this film until I was able to extract a message. This is actually a good sign since I don't like films that shove the message down my throat. The movie contains lots of comments on our society, hypocrisy and midlife depression.
It might be a bit painful for some people (not excluding myself) to admit that they identify a lot with Paul Giamatti's Miles: not exactly Hollywood romantic lead looks, he can't stand himself, he is filled with self pity, negativism and cynicism, and when he finally shows some courage it is a rather subtle change - just like in real life.
The four leading roles (in fact every role down to the smallest bit) are perfectly cast and wonderfully acted. Thomas Hayden Church (more of him, please!) is delightful as the womanizer cheating on his soon-to-be wife at the same time trying everything to get his buddy laid. Jack (Hayden Church) is every bit as neurotic/psychotic, whining and self-absorbed as Miles, but he doesn't admit that to himself on a conscious level. There is a wonderful ambiguity to both male lead characters. The women, even though far from one-dimensional, play little more than support for the male leads with the focus firmly on Miles. The movie might have benefited from some more background story on the women - maybe revealed in a conversation between both woman alone, but that's just me rambling.
The end - which I will not give away here - is very satisfying and does not show how Miles (Giamatti) gets his whole messed up life back together, but a pretty good guess is that he is on the best way.
I am happy knowing that Paul Giamatti is on his way up. I was waiting for a movie like that for quite a while. He is way too good an actor (he almost stole and ran away with the 2000 movie "duets") to be limited to playing sidekicks such as in "Paycheck".
Writer/Director Alexander Payne didn't fall into the trap of getting too artsy, too much "Indie" or too "low brow" with this movie. Like the wines which are described in this movie, it takes some time to be appreciated for it is subtle and there is more to it than what meet the eye at a first glance.