R | 2h 7m | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 2004
‘Sideways’
Although the job of English teacher Miles (Paul Giamatti) provides a steady income, he truly wants to break out as a published author and has an agent who is trying to drum up interest in one of his manuscripts. Miles is also an oenophile and can discern a good deal about a wine just by smelling it and swirling it around in a glass.
Miles and his good friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) are in different stages in their lives—at least regarding relationships. Miles recently got divorced and still isn’t over it, while Jack is about to get hitched to a beautiful Armenian woman named Christine Erganian (Alysia Reiner), whose father Mike (Shaun Duke) is a real estate mogul.
As a gift to his bosom buddy, Miles is taking Jack on a bachelor’s trip up to the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. Miles makes the trip from his home in San Diego to Los Angeles, where he picks up Jack from the Erganian family mansion.
Miles and Jack hit the road again the next morning, and we get a clearer perspective on the men’s personalities, as well as their current circumstances. The two buddies seem polar opposites. Miles is introverted, pudgy, and intellectual, while Jack has handsomely chiseled features, is smooth with the ladies, and is rather impetuous.
Miles dreads his new single life, and Jack is apprehensive about getting married since it will mean the official end of his bachelor days. However, both men have known each other since college and have come to understand each other’s peculiarities. They have a strong friendship despite their differences, or perhaps because of them.
While Miles wants Jack to enjoy glorious wine-sipping and to play some rounds of golf together, Jack seems more concerned with getting Miles “laid” and maybe getting some action for himself. Miles disapproves of Jack’s premarital lust, but puts up with it to not only support his friend but to also ease his own loneliness.
At a local restaurant that Miles knows called The Hitching Post, they encounter the pretty waitress Maya (Virginia Madsen). At first, Jack wants to hit on her, but when he finds out that Miles has met her on previous excursions to wine country, he tries to act as his wingman. Despite Jack’s attempts to link Miles up with Maya, Miles’s shyness stifles her obvious interest in him.
Later, they meet Stephanie (Sandra Oh), a wine pourer at a nearby winery, and she and Jack are immediately attracted to each other. Stephanie, like Jack, is impulsive and sensual, and she sets up a double date (that includes Maya and Miles) in no time flat. After some drinking that evening, the four of them wind up at Stephanie’s place. While Jack and Stephanie waste little time getting together, Miles seems to have a wall around him and avoids Maya’s advances once again.
The next day, Jack tries to talk some sense into Miles and urges him to go after Maya. He also tells Miles that he thinks he’s falling in love with Stephanie. Miles chides his friend for being so foolish, but the two men forgive each other’s flaws. When things get a little muddled for Jack, Miles ensures that his buddy goes through with his scheduled marriage. Indeed, the men encourage each other to face their issues, even if that means inconveniencing themselves.
Real, Flawed Characters
One of the things that struck me about this film is how realistic the characters seem. Each one of them is flawed in some way, but they also have certain redeeming qualities. The situations that they go through make you want to root for them to find happiness (especially Miles and Maya), and although this may not be your usual warm and fuzzy rom-com, it does have a hopeful ending.The performances are top-drawer all around, particularly by Mr. Giamatti, Ms. Madsen, and Mr. Haden Church. They truly seem to own their respective characters, although Giamatti seems to channel some of his past characters, such as his excellent portrayal as Harvey Pekar in “American Splendor.”
“Sideways” is a fantastic film about regular people dealing with realistic challenges that many of us face. It shows that change shouldn’t always frighten people, but rather can be seen as experiences to learn and grow from. Just be advised that there are some strong sexual themes present, so it is definitely a movie for adults.
