 SIDEWAYS
MPAA Rating:
 for language, some strong sexual content and nudityReviewed by: Jonathan Rodriguez Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
 Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Comedy, Drama
Length:
2 hr. 3 min.
Year of Release:
2005
      Relevant Issues
What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer Why should I save sex for marriage? Answer What is “fornication”? Answer  DEPRESSION - What should a Christian do when overwhelmed with depression? Answer DEPRESSION - Are there biblical examples of depression and how to deal with it? Answer DEPRESSION - If God knows I am hurting, why doesn’t He help me? Answer NUDITY - Why are humans supposed to wear clothes? Answer In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves. Producer’s Synopsis: “Miles Faymond (Giamatti), a divorced middle school teacher and failed novelist, and his altar-bound friend Jack (Church) take a wine-tasting trip in California, pondering questions about their directions in life.” Review: Finally, a character in a movie said exactly what I have been thinking for years about the nature of Hollywood’s “true love”. It happens in movies all the time, someone falls “in love” with a person they have known for only about 13 seconds and will seemingly do anything for that person. The person could be a serial killer for all we know, but the infatuated soul just knows it is true love, and the movies usually never stop to examine the authenticity of the “love”. It is assumed we will just take it for what they say it is, but I, for one, can never seem to let it slide. “Sideways,” Alexander Payne’s masterful new film, takes us on an alluring road trip through California wine county with middle-aged best-buds Jack and Miles. Jack (Thomas Haden Church) is getting married in a week, so his college pal and oenophile Miles (Paul Giamatti) has planned a road trip for the two that will feature good food, good golf, and great wine. This was Miles plan at least; things never quite go the way the one plans in real life, much less in the movies. At one of their first stops, where Miles has obviously been before, they run into Maya (Virginia Madsen), an unassuming waitress who clearly is interested in Miles. They have met before, but Miles has convinced himself that she is married, and would have no interest in him. Besides, he is busy enough moping about his marriage that failed on him two years prior; his only joy seems to come from his love of fine wine, pinot in particular. Soon after meeting Maya, they meet Stephanie (Sandra Oh), at one of their stops to taste the local wine. Jack is instantly attracted to her, and begins laying the charm on thick. Jack is a television actor, although his career now mostly consists of voice-overs you hear in car commercials. While Miles has a penchant for fine wine, Jack’s vice is fine women. He reveals to Miles that his goal for their little road trip is to “get laid” before he has to walk the aisle. It just so happens that Stephanie and Maya are friends, so they arrange a double date, where Jack’s infidelities begin, and a genuine friendship between Maya and Miles blossoms, assuming his depressed nature doesn’t get in the way. “Sideways” is a relationship film, and, while the women in their lives seem to complicate matters (while complementing the film), Miles and Jack’s relationship has clearly stood the test of time; more than likely due to the fact that they don’t see each other all that often. The old saying that opposites attract clearly comes into play here. Jack may have trouble with the women in his life, and needs lots of advice in how to handle those matters, but he is always there for Miles. He is always there to say something encouraging to his friend, to try to break him from his post-divorce stupor and get him to get his nose out of the wine glass and take a sniff of the real world. The content in “Sideways” will more than likely be the cause of many passing on this movie. It is a shame the film had to be so vulgar, when it had great things to say. The language is strong, and anyone familiar with Payne’s previous works (“About Schmidt”) will have an idea what to expect. There are at least 75 f-words, and many profane uses of God’s name, in all of the various usages. The sexual content is also very strong, and features two notably graphic sex scenes, accompanied by sounds and explicit dialogue. The main characters are not very admirable the majority of the time — with their constant drinking and sexual exploits — so Christians need to be fully prepared for the content. Due to its filmmaking quality, this movie has Oscar buzz all over it, which is primarily what drew me to it. The performances are incredible. Paul Giamatti plays his sad-sap to perfection, even though his character reminded me of ones he has played before. There is a scene at the end of the film, when he sees his ex-wife, that is a perfect example of an actor trying to suppress a whole lot of emotion to maintain his dignity. Thomas Haden Church carries the film, mixing hilarious dialogue and gestures with deep sincerity at times. His best scenes are when he simply talks to his friend; there is a lot to learn about these two, and the two men reveal the genuine sides of the character’s brilliantly. Virginia Madsen is top notch in a very vulnerable way; she is open, but fragile, and is willing to share herself with someone if they will just take the time to ask. Ok, so back to comments I made when I started this review. About halfway through the film, after Jack and Stephanie have toured the local vineyards and spent time in his hotel room, Jack comes down to the bar to see Miles. He tells Miles that he has never felt this way about anyone, and is thinking about putting everything on hold to give this relationship a chance (remember, he has a wedding approaching rapidly). Miles looks at him dumbfounded, as if he has no idea how he ended up being a friend to this guy. He reminds Jack that he doesn’t know what he is talking about, because he has only known this woman for 24 hours. There is no possible way he could have fallen in love with her that fast, he reminds him. It was something simple, I know, but when so many other movies mistake lust for love, it is refreshing to find one that knows the difference. Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Extreme [see our list of Relevant Issues of spiritual interest in this film] Year of Release — 2004   Neutral - From a Christian view this is a buddy film focusing on 2 guys who
are lost, and are trying to cope the best they can trapped in the world of
their vices and without any thought of Christ and His redemption. One
stays trapped unable to know how to escape while we feel that the other is
finding a way out at the end rising above the deep despair of his life
that in many ways was caused by his own actions. Christ is never
mentioned or considered. Neutral - I agree with the comment/review already made. Empty world. It
would have been better had the real significance of this emptiness been
stated more bluntly by the film. We just deduce from the dramatic actions
that this is a movie about miserable people living in today’s amoral
society, where self-gratification is a means and an end. There is some
hope at the end of the story, but still in an utterly God-less universe.
Great acting, well-done movie, a story about today’s lifeless life. Negative - Don’t waste your time or money on this one. It was not only boring
but disgusting. If you can sit through 50+ F-bombs & very graphic & gross
sex scenes then you’ll like this movie. I walked out & the manager said
many people had also walked out on this one. Oh, but there is one nice
scene where the guy steals money from his elderly mother. Neutral - I liked the film though the two sex scenes mentioned ventured very close to NC-17 territory when under the cover implied sex with perhaps brief nudity would have sufficed in my opinion. What on the surface looks to be a comedy adult romp of two middle aged men turned out to be much more (or less) than that and therein lies my problem with it; it mis-markets itself. In the huge supermarket in my neighborhood there is a promotion display offering the film for sale inviting the shopper to conveniently reach out and grab a copy. I believe many buyers who desire some degree of ethics/morality in films they view are going to be surprised when they get home and pop this one in their player. Positive - Sideways is a good film- not one deserving a Best Picture prize,
certainly, but all in all an entertaining an interesting look at two
friends who couldn’t be more different both dealing with some of the same
issues in markedly different ways. While Jack is an immature yet vibrant
character, Miles is a cynical but often more reasonable person. It’s easy
to both identify and sympathize with both characters, but it’s also often
easy to become frustrated with both of them. At the surface, especially as
the story begins, it seems that Miles is the everyman character, someone
that is down-to-earth and sensible- keeping the impulsive Jack out of
trouble. But as the film goes on, it seems that Miles might actually be
the more frustrating of the pair, as he is constantly depressed and lacks
the capacity to risk rejection and grasp the opportunity of a relationship
with the beautiful, clearly interested and available Mya. Negative - How this movie got nominated for Best Picture is beyond me. It
should have never made it to the theatres and should have died an
anonymous death on cable. I’m ashamed that I was talked into seeing it.
It’s two very graphic sex scenes were something that I didn’t need to see.
There is nothing redeeming about this film, the only thing that was
mildly entertaining was when Jack deservingly got his face broken up by
Stephanie when she finds out the truth about him. Positive - This was definitely one of the best films of the year, and I
loved it. The performances were great, and the direction by Alexander
Payne was, as always, very good. There are two graphic sexual scenes in
the film that were totally unnecessary and the language was pretty rough,
but other than that, it was excellent. While some of the content is
objectionable, the film doesn’t really condone their behavior. Also, the
film contains lots of drinking and paints a really pretty picture of all
things having to do with the art of tasting wine. Those who have had
problems with drinking in the past may want to either think before going
to see it or avoid it altogether. Other than that, I thought it was
excellent, and one of the best films of the year. I recommend it, but with
caution. Definitely not for children. Negative - Sideways contains some of most wonderfully written dialogue I’ve
seen in a movie in a long time. I’m thinking primarily the Virginia
Madsen character (and why she didn’t win an academy award, I’ll never
know). But that being said, the movie is also needlessly laced with
profanities, a couple of very graphic sex scenes, and the two main
characters are, for the most part, contemptible. I love wine. I love
golf. Would I want to these to spend a week wine tasting and golfing with
these two? Not a chance. I thought the two women characters were far
more interesting and in the end, they were given far too little time to
develop their characters fully. I though this would a movie I would love
but ended up being disappointed. Negative - I watch this on dvd last night. It was depressing, disturbing
and stupid. I need a mind shower this morning from the sex scenes alone,
not to mention the language. I know some people try to find some deep
meaning in the relationships represented in the flick, but honestly all it
did was remind me of my life before Christ! Positive - This film is a tale of morality. These two friends have grown
apart of the years and yet they still care deeply about one another. Yes
they make mistakes and both tell a horrible lie, but both pay for what
they do. Many people condemn Hollywood for making such films because they
are unchristian and tell stories the portray values that are not. Yet
here we have a story that is loaded with values. These two men do things
that are highly immoral and do they prosper? No, not at all. They are
both depressed middle aged men watching their lives slip away. One is a
womanizer and the other has a failed marraige and is working to
reconstruct another damaged relationship. Negative - The acting is great, but I found myself unable to care about these pathetic guys, both hopelessly stuck in a universe they are convinced revolves around themselves. Sadly, I think this is a good representation of the mindset of many in Hollywood (and elsewhere) today. A great movie to show how pointless a life away from God is. Thank the Good Lord for showing me there is more to life that what is represented here! Negative - This movie was not only boring, but it was extremely offensive. The basic idea was simply about two guys on a weekend vacation just talking about tasting wine and one of them longing to find a woman to sleep with. The language was extremely offensive. …Remember, if you were watching this movie, would Jesus want to stay and watch it with you? Movie Critics
“…One of the year’s best, this is vintage Payne…” “…a sublime variation on the buddy road movie…” “…Comedy about wine, women and men’s inability to handle either is painfully funny…” “…a Yuppie male bonding/road movie… the conversations and even many of the situations have the ring of authenticity…all fits together into a satisfying whole…” “…something to savor…gem of a screenplay… captures the unflattering male psyche like no film since 'Roger Dodger'…” “…a winner… As character study, as exercise in American ambience or simply as an entertaining movie, Sideways triumphs…” |
