Sideways (***1/2)
review by Jon
Waterman
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.
respond to jon@filmbrats.com
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