SIDEWAYS
Directed by: Alexander Payne.
Produced by: Michael London.
Written by: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, based on the novel by Rex Pickett.
Director of Photography: Phedon Papamichael.
Edited by: Kevin Tent.
Music by: Rolfe Kent.
Released by: Fox Searchlight.
Language: with English subtitles.
Country of Origin: USA. 124 min. Rated: R.
With: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen & Sandra Oh.
DVD Features: Commentary by Giamatti & Church. Deleted Scenes with director commentary. Behind-the-scenes featurette. Trailer. English, French & Spanish subtitles.

Director Alexander Payne has arrived. If Election didn't have you laughing your head off, and About Schmidt didn't make you cry, then Sideways will have you doing both. His film expertly walks the fine line between farce and subtlety. Once again he has created a central character so needy that the very act of watching the film is painful and yet undeniably entertaining.

Paul Giamatti's Miles is an obviously clever mix of the obsessive-compulsiveness of Election's Tracy Flick and the snobbishness of Warren R. Schmidt. Miles is taking a road trip with his longtime friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) through California's wine country, celebrating Jack's final week as a bachelor. While Miles envisions this as a relaxing week of wine-tasting and teaching Jack the finer points of pinot, Jack's intents merely to get laid one last time. Still bruised from his divorce (of two years earlier), Miles reluctantly agrees, after much brow beating from Jack, to go on a double date with Jack and two local women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh).

The plot of Sideways is so simple that it is astounding the way Payne is able to securely draw you in and create complex (and full-bodied, as Miles might say) characters. The film is hysterical, due mainly to Thomas Haden Church. As a one-time soap opera star now demoted to commercial voice-overs (that's him you hear rambling off the life-threatening side effects of anti-depression medication), Church is completely beside himself, whether he is on the prowl or attempting to be sincere. And Virginia Madsen is touching as Maya, a waitress who knows just enough about wine to pique the otherwise unattainable interest of Miles. In a scene where the potential couple discuss their equal affection for wine, Madsen is so tonally perfect that her words bring immediate notice to the smart, but not precocious, dialogue. But it is Paul Giamatti who ultimately makes the experience so gratifying. Giamatti delivers a character so rich in mannerism and expression that Miles is able to gain our sympathy even when we feel at times he is getting exactly what he deserves.

Sideways has been getting a lot of year-end attention and it only takes one viewing to figure out why. What Payne has done here is created a film not for any one demographic, but for those who simply love going to the movies. With moving performances, an impeccable screenplay, and assured directing, this is storytelling in its finest form. Michael Belkewitch
December 22, 2004

DVD Extras: Aside from the actual film, the commentary by Giamatti and Church is the highlight of this DVD. The banter, laughter, and praise that the actors engage in makes you feel like they ARE Miles and Jack, the best of friends - but somehow more even-tempered and sensible. Hearing their opinions makes it difficult for someone NOT to enjoy every minute detail from the music to the lighting. A second viewing of the film is necessary to relive the dialogue the actors comment on and in so doing, enjoy it even more. The seven deleted scenes include explanations from Payne on why they were cut. Some of the scenes are pleasing, but none would have really added much had they been kept in. And a behind-the-scenes featurette - using snippets of interviews with actors Giamatti and Church and the director - is appealing to some degree but a bit too short to delve into the film’s production. Mallory Potosky
April 13, 2005