Sideways: A Heartfelt, Well-Written Movie With Plenty of Wine

by Lewis Robinson

The movie Sideways is what Roger Ebert's website calls "the best human comedy of the year." After its release in September 2004, Sideways received many accolades, nominations and awards.

Plot

Paul Giamatti plays Miles Raymond, a middle-aged English teacher who is an unpublished writer. His former college roommate and best friend, Jack Cole, played by Thomas Haden Church, is about to be married. The two men take off to wine country for a bachelor-style trip.

Their first stop is at Miles' mother's house, where the men allegedly visit her on the occasion of her birthday. Instead, they steal $1,000 from her and run off before the party begins.

Miles envisions a voyage filled with golf, relaxation, fine dining and perhaps a trip or two through wine cellar glass doors to sample some California vintage. However, Jack has more salacious ideas in mind. He is looking to sow some wild oats before settling into married life. Jack sets up Miles with a waitress and casual acquaintance, Maya, while arranging a date for himself with Stephanie, a wine pourer and Maya's acquaintance.

The two couples have a double date during which Miles drinks too much and calls his ex-wife, Victoria. Jack has told Miles that she remarried and planned to bring her new husband to Jack's wedding. The date ends at Stephanie's house, where Jack and Stephanie get much too close, and Miles and Maya spend time talking about Miles' manuscript and getting to know each other.

Jack later decides he is in love with Stephanie and wants to move to California to be close to her. Meanwhile, Miles and Maya's relationship moves along well until Maya learns that Jack is engaged. Disgusted at the men's dishonesty, she breaks it off with Miles.

The bachelors visit another winery during their trip. Miles causes a scene by drinking from the spit bucket, and Jack removes Miles from the premises, returning to their hotel. However, Stephanie is there and breaks Jack's nose with her motorcycle helmet.

Miles leaves a final voice mail for Maya, apologizing and admitting his manuscript was rejected. Jack has another fling with a married woman, and Miles helps his friend get out of the scrape between Jack, the woman and her husband. The friends end their vacation by wrecking the car so that they have an excuse for Jack's broken nose.

Jack and Miles return home, where Jack is married. Miles plugs away at his teaching job, but one day Maya calls him, and he returns to visit her in California.

Reviews

Critics describe Sideways as a movie without gimmicks. Instead, it relies on its well-written plot, solid structure, superb character acting, and perfectly timed slapstick comedy.

The movie was directed by Alexander Payne, whom critics describe in the Los Angeles Times as having a "surgeon's precision" concerning writing and directing. Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael is lauded for the scenery filled with sunshine and lush views of the Santa Ynez Valley, the movie's setting. Rolfe Kent composed and produced the jazz-filled soundtrack.

Alexander Payne and his writing partner, Jim Taylor, are described as having a talent for bringing aching beauty to scenarios that are at once out of control and true to life. Those who have reviewed Sideways claim that once again, Payne and Taylor have hit the nail on the head in this movie. The writers manage to mix characters who are as different as oil and water, with subtle, warm and nonjudgmental finesse and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

Payne and Taylor won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture. The American Film Institute Awards designated Sideways as the AFI Movie of the Year.

Final Thoughts

If you are a wine lover and a movie lover, Sideways is a heartfelt, adult-themed movie that combines the two subjects. Adapted from Rex Pickett's novel of the same name, Sideways has enjoyed success through the years.