Sideways (2004) Read Along
Spiralling sideways with Paul Giamatti
Every time I re-watch Alexander Payne’s finest directorial achievement two thoughts constantly run through my splintered mind (1) I am the Paul Giamatti character “Miles” (aside from his ability to quaff vast amounts of wine) and (2) the film as a whole climbs ever higher in my albeit large catalogue of favourite films of all time.
Here’s an excerpt from my lengthy spoiler free review of the film I originally penned and published well over a decade ago:
“If anybody orders merlot, I’m leaving. I’m not drinking any fucking merlot!”.
Please accept my sincere apologies for the above tag line. It’s purely a personal indulgence as it represents my favourite segment of the film and as well as being absolutely hysterical it’s also reflective of many of the touchstones of the film’s overriding themes and a snapshot of our two male protagonists in this astonishing film. “Miles” (Paul Giamatti) and “Jack” (Thomas Hayden Church) may ostensibly be old College roommates and lifelong friends but they are so much more than that as they interchange roles between an old married couple bickering about any and everything to two disparate individuals in the middle of their lives with completely polar opposite views and of a seemingly parental/child relationship, one forever pulling the other into line with an admonishment or a reminder of their responsibilities and commitments.
Usually it’s Miles who takes the parental role to Jack’s hyperactive, over the top and somewhat childish persona but here in the pivotal scene mid-way through the film it’s Jack’s turn to assume the responsibility of a parent over their wayward child as Miles, seemingly forever plagued by bad news is in yet another “tailspin”, a little drunk and recovering from yet another personal setback in his life.
To make matters (comically) worse, Miles also has to play along with yet more lies emanating from the mouth of his friend and to feed his insatiable appetite for casual sexual liaisons. Jack is determined to make the most of their week together but not quite in the manner that Miles had intended to send his friend off into his upcoming marriage. He has to lie (again) about his newly agreed book publishing deal and following a pep talk from Jack he has to find his humorous and gregarious side (again), thus ensuring he doesn’t sabotage Jack’s intended night of sexual debauchery. Following his hilarious and sarcastic retort of “aye aye Captain” Miles has one further stipulation being the renowned wine connoisseur that he is, no merlot will be consumed under any circumstances and although he receives a categorical assurance that this line will not be crossed he soon capitulates and ventures over to the “the dark side” under the pressure of a brilliant, light hearted, fun and boozy evening with great company and despite his humorous and chaotic attempts to ruin the evening, he fails.
But then again, Miles always fails!
This in a nutshell is the beauty of this wonderfully funny, acerbic, heart breaking but colourful, vibrant and warm film. A tale of constant lies and deceit, friendship, heartbreak, self discovery and self examination set amongst the rolling hills, vineyards and beautiful coastline of southern California as two friends try desperately to enjoy a final week of freedom before returning to marriage, work and a book full of typos and existential angst.
I had the immense pleasure of seeing this film at my local picture house ten years ago and I look forward to re-watching it anytime I or a companion suggests doing so. Along with Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia it’s a film on strict and constant rotation! I instantly fell in love with Sideways at the cinema all those years ago and am still fascinated and in love with every sun kissed, melancholic frame now. In another shameless sense of self regarding nonsense I love this film for deeply personal reasons for as well as being Clarence Worley in Tony Scott’s eponymous True Romance and Jerry Lundegaard in the Coen Brothers directed masterpiece Fargo, I am Miles, to an absolute golfing tee, here in Alexander Payne’s Sideways.
OK I can’t consume wine in such voluminous quantities as Miles, nor do I drive a classic shaped red Saab convertible and I’m clearly not an accomplished writer either, but every look, every half smile and every lament, sarcastic comment and heart breaking regret is me to a tee. I also like to think I share his warmth, his soul and his heart of pure gold that’s hidden beneath the veneer of his problems, but that’s for others to judge and decide. For now, I am Miles and being the narcissist that I am, I can’t help but love him and laugh heartily at the inside japes and jokes, as well as his inner torment.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Original Review of "Sideways" in full
"Alexander Payne and 4 films for your consideration"
"The Essential Film Reviews Collection" Vol.4 - Available via Amazon
"Sideways" Review and my Youtube Channel Reading
"Sideways" Review and Rumble Reading
So now with an appetite duly whetted dear reader you have a choice.
You can either:
(a) Read my entire review of “Sideways” via the first link above
(b) Treat yourself to three more wonderful films from director Alexander Payne via the second link above.
(c) Watch either of my Youtube or Rumble channel videos of my reading of my own spoiler free review of the film, hence the “Read Along” moniker.
or (d) Treat yourself to any combination of the above or even (e) disappear to pastures new within our collective electrical Matrix.
Oh, and (f) There’s a link above to Volume 4 of my exhaustive 7 volumes of “Essential Film Reviews Collection” packaged in my e-book and Kindle series on Amazon.
All 7 volumes are FREE to read if you have an Amazon Kindle “Unlimited” package.
Bless you for reading.
Thanks for reading. If you like the premise of this absurd idea of “Read Along”, then you might also enjoy:
“Punch-Drunk Love” (2002) — Read Along
“Requiem for a Dream” (2000) — Read Along