Sideways (2004)

Review by Zachary Keith Parker

Alexander Payne’s About Schmidt was arguably one of the best films from 2002, and it is still a sobering picture to see. Similar to About Schmidt, Payne’s Oscar-winning Sideways follows its protagonist on a road trip to find restoration, to determine a connection outside the painful world he has previously inhabited.

Unlike About Schmidt, a sleazy sidekick, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), accompanies the protagonist, Miles (Paul Giamatti). As Jack prepares to get married, Miles suggests a road trip a week before the wedding so they can visit vineyards in California.

However, Jack obviously should not be the one getting married: he’s shallow, and obsessed with having sex with women. On the other hand, Miles is quiet, shy, and intellectual. He’s also a wine connoisseur, and writing a book cleverly entitled, The Day After Yesterday.

Ultimately, the road trip affects Miles much more than Jack. Miles tells Jack, “Half my life is over and I have nothing to show for it. Nothing.” Even though he’s written a book, the publishers refuse to publish it. Miles is also divorced, and still recovering from the loss of his marriage.

Both his work and personal life have stopped short of fruition. During their trip, the soon-to-be-married Jack meets (and has sex with) Stephanie (Sandra Oh). Meanwhile Miles meets Maya (Virginia Madsen), who seems to understand Miles’ eccentricity and shares many of the same cares as him. 

Miles and Maya’s conversation about their favorite wines is one of the most memorable conversations in any film made for a long time. As they each describe their favorite wine, it does not take long to realize they are actually describing the very integrity of their own personalities.

In the same way, the dialogue in the film’s sure-to-win-the-Oscar script constantly reveals so much about the characters that it becomes a warm and thoughtful reminder of characteristics in the people around you.

As licentious as Jack acts, Payne never stoops to commend or even approve of Jack’s promiscuous behavior. Undoubtedly, Payne negatively depicts Jack as a one track minded character that constantly lies to everyone around him if he thinks it will get him somewhere. At the same time, Payne’s representation (and Thomas Haden Church’s acting) never become campy, but sadly pertinent to the personality of the modern macho man.

On a different note, Paul Giamatti is one of the most underrated actors of our day. He should have been nominated for his role in the 2003’s American Splendor. While Church and Madsen received Oscar nominations for Sideways, Giamatti still did not receive a nomination. The Academy is sorely flawed in overlooking Giamatti’s performances, especially in Sideways. As Miles, Giamatti portrays the most sympathetic, heartfelt, and compassionate character of this year.

Sideways may not be philosophically deep, but few movies speak so sincerely to the human situation as Sideways. Payne’s characterization of Miles and Maya, and the movie’s ending are all hauntingly beautiful. Sideways may not surpass About Schmidt in its overarching redeeming value, but Payne/Taylor’s superlative dialogue reveal two characters whose experiences and futures are just as memorable and evoke in us hopes of restoration and fruition.