Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church,
Virginia Madsen, and Sandra Oh
Miles (Paul Giamatti) is an
unsuccessful writer in San Diego who makes a living as an English teacher. Jack (Thomas Haden Church) is an unsuccessful
actor on the road to marriage. They’re
two middle age losers. The two long time
friends and wine connoisseurs decide to take a road trip to California’s wine
country. In the Santa Ynez Valley wine
country, the two buddies meet Maya (Virginia Madsen), a waitress at a local
restaurant, and her friend Stephanie (Sandra Oh). Jack cheats on his fiancée with Stephanie,
while Miles tries to get closer to Maya.
When the truth of Jack’s looming marriage surfaces, all hell breaks
loose.
Sideways is one of the best dark comedies I’ve
ever seen. Director Alexander Payne gave
the film the right mix of slapstick comedy, drama, and heartfelt moments. This is a film for the refined drinker. It’s
is a film where the BAC rating differs from the drink recommendation. While the film gets a
0.03% rating, you should definitely watch Sideways
with a glass of wine in hand. It would
be disrespectful to this great film to do otherwise. Don’t drink Merlot though.
