Movie Review

Sideways

I?m a fan of Election (B+) and About Schmidt (B+), and had been looking forward to Alexander Payne?s latest entry until I saw the trailer. Sideways, starring Paul Giamatti and an unknown Thomas Haden Church, looked as though it was lacking Payne?s traditional wit and style judging from the preview, and the story appeared unusually simplistic for a project of his.

Regardless, I went into this screening with an open mind, figuring I shouldn?t judge a book by its cover, so to speak (and because I was seeing it early). I really wanted to like this film considering the talent behind it, but was finding it hard to do so for a decent distance in. And though this movie frustrated me in some areas and was a disappointment, I?m going to give it thumbs up, only for the few areas that I really liked and wished had more screen time.

Paul Giamatti plays Mike, a struggling writer who got divorced two years ago and has since dug himself into a deep depression, never having dated anyone since. Mike is a rather boring guy and rather sluggish in the way he presents himself, and is socially awkward. His friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), is the opposite, an absolute womanizer, and will hit on any women he sees. Jack is getting married soon, and he and Mike decide to take a road trip across the countryside of California before the wedding. This trip gives Mike a chance to get out of town, as his latest novel is being optioned to various publishers and he needs a breath of fresh air in the process; for Jack, the trip is an escape before his marriage handcuffs him.

While on the trip, the two run into a waitress that Mike knows considering his occasional visits to these countryside grounds. Maya (Virginia Madsen), the waitress, is a nice and easygoing woman who grows a crush on Mike despite his unusual demeanor, and she also introduces Jack to a friend of hers, Stephanie (Sandra Oh). Neither Maya nor Stephanie knows that Jack is to be married after the trip, and as a result, Jack and Stephanie hook up.

Sideways is an analysis of these two guys? meandering lives as they?re venturing closer to their mid-life (crisis) phase. Once they're amongst the countryside, the story dives into their personal/love lives; and while meeting these two women, the characters? identities are further revealed.

If I ever had to make a list of the movie characters in all of history that have pissed me off the most, Jack would rank up there. What really annoys me is when a story comes along and you can tolerate part of it, and then there?s that one character who you cannot stand, who you just want to knock unconscious almost every minute he/she?s onscreen. Jack fulfills that description to a tee, and while I will admit that some (if not many) people will find him funny, he was one of the biggest factors that was bringing the film down for me.

In Election and Schmidt, I dug Payne?s sense of humor in the writing and thought both films were funny, but Election more so. The problem for me with Sideways is that it worked best when it wasn?t a comedy, and unfortunately it tries for laughs over a good chunk of its screen time. The film's dramatic side played the best with me, but almost every time the film resorted to comic relief I was left frustrated and craved for its personal notes.

Jack is the core of the humor with his insistence to cheat on his fianc?, and his belief that it is necessary in his current position. Sometimes jokes or (comedic) attitudes that are just "wrong" hit me just right, but here Jack never gained my sympathy. Though these types of characters can easily irritate me (it's like listening to foul, perverted talk - and is cheating on someone supposed to be funny?), sometimes it works; the gags need to have a certain slant, and the actor also has to have the right charisma in order for the viewer to like him.

Hugh Grant in About a Boy is one of the only examples that immediately comes to mind with this topic. I felt that he successfully played an asshole for a good chunk of screen time without making you hate him (but that's also because he's Hugh Grant). He had solid writing in his favor that didn't test the limits, and two directors who know their craft, but Grant had a charm within his performance that was almost irresistible even with his darker personality.

I hated Jack most of the way through this film, and though Church probably deserves credit for making that happen with his performance, I just didn?t dig the hardcore ?guy? humor that the film offers (the comedy also borders slapstick). Jack is obnoxious (and ruthless), in a way that I wouldn?t want to know him in real life, and you know the man will probably never change.

Paul Giamatti usually keeps the film afloat (when he?s not with Church), though when put alongside his companion it was still hard to tolerate the duo. Giamatti, who got his first big break with the comic book comedy/drama, American Splendor (B), delivers another fine performance here, though still somewhat in the league as the loser he portrayed there.

Sideways plays its cards right when Mike and Maya get close, romantically, as both characters come to a better light. Madsen nails her role perfectly (worthy of a nomination), and I almost wanted to know more about her character?s side of the story rather than the two guys. Their scene discussing the meaning of wine reveals solid depth, both in terms of character and performance ability, and it made me want to see a story just surrounding them.

Sandra Oh has fun with her role as Stephanie, and there?s always the feeling that she could be funnier if handed more lines but her role is limited. Instead, Jack is given most of the comedic moments when the two are together, which, as you can probably guess, did not make me happy.

The audience at this screening really enjoyed the film, and amongst those sitting around me (most of whom were senior citizens) I was one of the only people who barely even broke a smile throughout its running time (the film got half a smirk and one chuckle out of me). So there is the possibility that I will be a minority in my reaction to this film, and judging from the reviews so far, critics seem to be a fan of many of its components.

Sideways? finale did take me in emotionally, and I really dug its last scene, but it made me really wish the film relaxed and just focused on the emotional core of the story. Though my position on the film is a light thumbs down, I will recommend it only for its few graces; perhaps people will look at me funny once they see it and have no idea what film version I saw, but to each his own.

Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #7 of 120 between Fahrenheit 911 (#6) and Closer (#8) for 2004 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%