Sideways

Sideways stars Paul Giamatti (PG), Thomas Haden Church (TH), Virginia Madsen (VM) & Sandra Oh (SO). It is based on a Rex Pickett novel.

It tells the story of a week in the lives of two people - Miles (PG) and Jack (TH), who drive across California in what is Miles’ idea of soaking up life before Jack gets trapped in wedlock, a week later. Miles is a divorced, aspiring writer who’s struggling to get a book published while teaching English to 8th graders (Reason 1 to love the movie. I have wanted to teach English to schoolkids!). He’s the stereotypical loser (Reason 2). Jack is the actor who’s at the sunset of his acting life and makes do with commercials.

Jack’s plans for the week include trying to get Miles’ laid! In the course of things, they run into two women – Maya (VM) and Stephanie, both of whom work at wineries. Their lives get complicated from that moment on.

There are 2 parts to the movie – the wild escapades of Jack that lead to comic consequences for both Jack and Miles (don’t miss the sequence towards the end, when they try to explain the injury to Jack!) and the “drifting in and out of drunkenness” of Miles, while he tries to put his life into perspective. PG excels as Miles and TH is impressive as the philandering friend, who does care about his buddy, but just can’t keep to himself.

VM essays the role of the woman who’s working her way to her Master’s while working as a waitress, with élan. The interlude between Maya and Miles, one night while they sit discussing the merits of Pinaut wine (even as TH and SO are being not so discreet elsewhere!) is perhaps the best summary of the movie. While Miles faces up to a failed marriage and fights his own misconceptions about the woman who’s just a “waitress” the movie unravels into a beautiful tale of romance and reflections on life.

The movie also has its humorous moments when Miles detours from their route trip to California to visit his mother.

As the movie courses its way through the vineyards of California, there are several questions that confront the viewer- Will Miles and Maya finally hook up, in what must be the dream coupling for both? Will Jack abandon his approaching marriage for his lover of his dreams? Will Miles’ novel finally get published?

Watch the movie to find the answers – including some to your own life! (Read my next blog for details) Overall, a must watch – this one is the best romance in recent times, perhaps even a shade better than Closer.