Sideways (2004)

Posted : 2 months, 3 weeks ago at Aug 31 23:22

by Dane Youssef “Sideways” is one of those movies that seems to be made entirely for the scholarly and intellectual. The artsy, deep, hip and high-brow. Films about those people going through a turning point in their lives. Mid-life crisis’s and the like. And ones like this in paticular always seem to reap critical praise, a crowd of feverent fans and prestigious award nominations. "Sideways" has one of those cool quirky titles that sounds really hip and grabs your attention. You know, it'll be an edgy movie. Like "Entourage," "Purgatory," "Angel Eyes" and the like. Something about "Sideways" says it's going to be different. Smarter. Sharper. In a word, better. But unlike the title for the Johnny Depp-Winona Ryder vehicle "Finding Neverland," this one doesn't pretty much r...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago at Aug 13 23:01

Sideways is one of those rare movies that is perfectly realistic yet hilarious - in fact, it may be so hilarious because of its realism and its way of having easily relatable characters. Miles is lovable and ridiculously flawed, as is Jack, the films two main characters who are friends from college. This odd pairing sets off most of the films jokes: Miles being an analytical man suffering through a divorce (albeit two years ago) and depression, Jack a man of "instinct" and an actor. Jack is the reason they take a wine-tasting trip through California - though he is a soon to be married man who wants to have one last fling before tying the knot. Unfortunately, Jack and Miles have very different ideas for how the trip will pan out. Alexander Payne delivers a thoughtful movie filled wit...Read more

Rating : 10/10

Posted : 1 year, 7 months ago at Apr 18 18:20

Watching this film initiated my love for Paul Giamatti, the thinking man's hero. He plays an unpublished writer who suffers from serious depression and regrets about his failed marriage, and he does so with aplomb. He embarks on a road-trip with a former room mate, who is soon to marry, around the vineyards of California. His plans of relaxation, wine tasting and good clean fun are abruptly destroyed when his playboy friend (Thomas Hayden Church - who when not playing unconvincing super villains is actually a good actor) begins a lustful relationship with a young waitress they meet. Sideways is a hilarious film littered with strong performances throughout. I'm Sandra Oh's biggest critic, but not even she could ruin the fun. As the two old men (seemingly the complete personality opposit...Read more

Rating : 8/10

Posted : 1 year, 9 months ago at Feb 4 5:51

Looking back i can't remember what i expected from this movie, but whatever it was it didn't do it for me because all i remember is feeling unentertained and dissatisfied with the experience, or lack thereof.

Rating : 2/10

Posted : 1 year, 10 months ago at Jan 2 16:26

I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I'd opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive. And it's constantly evolving and gaining complexity. That is, until it peaks, like your '61. And then it begins its steady, inevitable decline - Maya /spoilers/ A bitter-sweet comedy about life's disappointments, the film centers around the journey of a downtrodden writer/high school Egnlish teacher/wine connoisseur Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his washed-up actor friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) to the famous wine country where they meet the women of their dreams (Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh), sort of. Although the two characters have completely different personalities (one is very serious about everything ...Read more

Rating : 8/10