In
search of wine. In search of women. In search of
themselves.
Fortunately,
I have just seen Alexander Payne's latest film,
"Sideways," starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden
Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh in a
wonderful, Golden Globe nominated film that
deals with two friends, Jack (Church) and Miles
(Giamatti), going off on a road trip one week
prior to Jack's wedding.
This California coast road trip is set to be a
time of golf, wine, freedom and fun prior to
Jack's settling down. What follows, as the two
men meet Madsen and Oh, is insightful, funny,
painful and enlightening to watch unfold
onscreen.
"Sideways" has already garnered seven Golden
Globe nominations including those for the
performances of Church, Giamatti and Madsen
along with Payne's direction, Rolfe Kent's
score, the screenplay by Jim Taylor and Payne
and the film itself for Best Motion Picture-
Musical or Comedy.
After last year's stand-out performance in
"American Splendor," Giamatti gives yet another
incredible performance here as a man who is
deeply troubled, flawed and profoundly human. It
is a sin that Giamatti does not get greater
roles...he's gathered quite the history of
powerful performances and last year's snub for
"American Splendor" virtually guarantees at
least an Oscar nod for this performance. It is
completely worthy and expected from this critic.
In a slightly more supporting role, the mostly
television based Church gives a much more
energized and complex performance as the less
mature but much freer partner in crime here. The
chemistry between Giamatti and Church is
marvelous here and keeps the film from every
dragging or slowing in what is, essentially, a
fairly basic plot.
As the woman who join this great journey, Madsen
and Oh are also wonderful to behold and both
are, to me, quite the revelation. I've never
fancied myself a Madsen fan, but she's simply
wonderful here and I've constantly found myself
irritated by Oh, however, she accurately
captures her character's essence by combining a
sizzling sexuality, an openness and, at times, a
sort of viciousness that perfectly suits the
scene.
"Sideways" is not a flashy film by any stretch
of the imagination. It is not a film that relies
on gimmicks or effects or distractions. It is a
powerfully written story captured onscreen by
Alexander Payne with a wondrous humanity and
sensitivity. It is aided by the incredible cast,
along with stellar production design and Rolfe
Kent's score.
I've long loved films that center around a basic
humanity...I prefer characters that are richly
human and authentic to the core. Payne excels at
bringing to life such characters and the team of
Paul Giammatti and Thomas Haden Church works
together to bring these wonderful characters to
life.
"Sideways" is, for me, a Top 5 film for 2004
with Oscar nominations due for Giamatti, Church,
Payne, Kent, Madsen and others within the
production team. It is filmmaking at its finest
and, while not quite what I'd consider a
"perfect" film it is a richly entertaining,
thought-provoking and moving film that I
wholeheartedly recommend for the film viewer
that embraces the simple beauty of a story
unfolding with grace, dignity and honesty.
©
Written by Richard
Propes
TC Candler's Comment
One of the
very best screenplays of the year delivered by a
superb ensemble cast. This has Oscar
written all over it. I would be surprised
to see this film end up outside my year-end Top
10 List.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
