Alright. Sorry about the delay. I'm in a major transition period, what with graduating college and getting slowly moved in to a new apartment/city. And we can't forget the holidays. It may take a couple more weeks before I get back into a full swing, but once I do, there will hopefully be no letting up. For now, enjoy my look at Sideways. I'll come back later with reviews for Kinsey and something of a companion piece to Moog (see below), Better Living Through Circuitry.
Sideways
Review by Jon Waterman
***1/2
Best man Miles is taking Jack out on a bachelor's party road trip. The excitement can barely be
contained as they go wine tasting throughout California. Actually, Jack is looking for something a little more standard as parties go. Instead of stomping grapes, he's looking to sew some oats. The not so recently divorced Miles desperately tries to keep things on schedule. Can such vastly different personalities take this trip in the same direction?
Alexander Payne, director and co-writer (along with Jim Taylor, "About Schmidt"), once again brings us another traveling picture void of young people and full of entertainment. The cast is all at or nearing middle age, so it may not exactly speak to the younger generations. I can't imagine too many high school or college aged kids that can relate to an undying depression that stemmed from a divorce several years ago or relate to the obsession over wine tasting. Even though someone my age can't really relate personally to the plights and the situations from the movie, it's still possible to enjoy watching it.
The film doesn't have the wacky characters you'd find in "About Schmidt" or even "Election" (another Payne movie), and in fact the leads are rather two-dimensional. But that's where the humor comes in. You essentially know what to expect out of Jack and Miles. You know that Jack will try to turn the conversation towards partying and sex, where as Miles will try to gear it towards wine and relaxation. It's such a basic formula, yet it works well.
One thing that makes it work so well is the great timing by the actors. Thomas Haden Church (as Jack), veteran of the sitcoms "Wings" and "Ned and Stacey," makes for the perfect antithesis to veteran of the depressing comedies "Storytelling" and "American Splendor," Paul Giamatti (as Miles). The leading ladies don't provide too many great one-liners, but the back and forth between the guys provides plenty of laughs.
It's hard to put a finger on what makes the film so oddly appealing. On the surface, it's a very basic movie with basic characters, an extremely pared down plot line, and generic cinematography, directing, and editing. The performances are good and the script is funny. What I think makes it so unusual, is that you rarely find a movie that is geared towards a specific, older, cultured generation these days. Yet, surprisingly it works for younger film lovers like me. The typical teenager most likely won't enjoy the film. In fact, the typical adult may not either. But if watching a movie about two oxymoronic friends talk about wine and women sounds like a good time, then this one's for you.
Sideways
Review by Jon Waterman
***1/2
Best man Miles is taking Jack out on a bachelor's party road trip. The excitement can barely be
contained as they go wine tasting throughout California. Actually, Jack is looking for something a little more standard as parties go. Instead of stomping grapes, he's looking to sew some oats. The not so recently divorced Miles desperately tries to keep things on schedule. Can such vastly different personalities take this trip in the same direction?
Alexander Payne, director and co-writer (along with Jim Taylor, "About Schmidt"), once again brings us another traveling picture void of young people and full of entertainment. The cast is all at or nearing middle age, so it may not exactly speak to the younger generations. I can't imagine too many high school or college aged kids that can relate to an undying depression that stemmed from a divorce several years ago or relate to the obsession over wine tasting. Even though someone my age can't really relate personally to the plights and the situations from the movie, it's still possible to enjoy watching it.
The film doesn't have the wacky characters you'd find in "About Schmidt" or even "Election" (another Payne movie), and in fact the leads are rather two-dimensional. But that's where the humor comes in. You essentially know what to expect out of Jack and Miles. You know that Jack will try to turn the conversation towards partying and sex, where as Miles will try to gear it towards wine and relaxation. It's such a basic formula, yet it works well.
One thing that makes it work so well is the great timing by the actors. Thomas Haden Church (as Jack), veteran of the sitcoms "Wings" and "Ned and Stacey," makes for the perfect antithesis to veteran of the depressing comedies "Storytelling" and "American Splendor," Paul Giamatti (as Miles). The leading ladies don't provide too many great one-liners, but the back and forth between the guys provides plenty of laughs.
It's hard to put a finger on what makes the film so oddly appealing. On the surface, it's a very basic movie with basic characters, an extremely pared down plot line, and generic cinematography, directing, and editing. The performances are good and the script is funny. What I think makes it so unusual, is that you rarely find a movie that is geared towards a specific, older, cultured generation these days. Yet, surprisingly it works for younger film lovers like me. The typical teenager most likely won't enjoy the film. In fact, the typical adult may not either. But if watching a movie about two oxymoronic friends talk about wine and women sounds like a good time, then this one's for you.
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