Little Tony DeFranco
11-22-2004, 06:34 AM
Review: Sideways
http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php
Male bonding and wine tasting should not be in the same sentence without thinking of a San Fran New Years Eve party, but a movie about two heterosexual guys on a wine country bachelor week before a wedding is game for a few laughs......well more than that. "Sideways" is a movie for guys and the girls that hate them. Alexander Payne ('Election' and 'About Schmidt' are indie classics) directed and wrote (from novel by Rex Pickett) a dramatic comedy that hits all the marks for laughs and inner sadness. Best indie film this year.
There isn't a false note in this film because it wants to examine the male ego in a way that everyone can relate to. Miles (Paul Giamatti was robbed of last years Oscar nomination) is a middle school teacher who is selling his novel. Jack (TV actor from 'Wings', Thomas Hayden Church) is an actor who does voice-overs for prescription drugs commercials and about to take the plunge into marriage. The college buddies run off to the vineyards of Northern California for a week of wine and golf, and get some tail from the locals. Along the way we find out that Miles is hurting from his bitter divorce and Jack is still a womanizer without a conscience. The week gets crazier as it passes and the bond of friendship is still as strong as ever when they meet up with 2 beautiful local women (Virginia Madsen is stunning, and Sandra Oh of 'Arliss' is sexy as hell). The problem is that Miles is a mess and Jack is just a heel.
"Sideways" is Payne's finest movie yet (tough to top his last 2) and it looks like a Hal Ashby flick from the 70's. Full of fine actors and top notch script, along with some of the best belly laughs all year. If somebody at the studios got hold of this, it would have been ruined with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Giamatti and Church are excellent comic actors who have the acting power to do hard dramatic script. Beware of some full frontal nude shots (biker actor M.C. Gainey!!!!!!!) and enough wine drinking to kill a Cyclopes. Madsen is amazingly hot for an over 40 chick and she can act. Giamatti deserves something more than praise, maybe it's his year to get a nomination. Cheers....but I'm not drinking fucking Merlot!
The Big Man (http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php )
Heartbeat is a Love Beat
http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php
Male bonding and wine tasting should not be in the same sentence without thinking of a San Fran New Years Eve party, but a movie about two heterosexual guys on a wine country bachelor week before a wedding is game for a few laughs......well more than that. "Sideways" is a movie for guys and the girls that hate them. Alexander Payne ('Election' and 'About Schmidt' are indie classics) directed and wrote (from novel by Rex Pickett) a dramatic comedy that hits all the marks for laughs and inner sadness. Best indie film this year.
There isn't a false note in this film because it wants to examine the male ego in a way that everyone can relate to. Miles (Paul Giamatti was robbed of last years Oscar nomination) is a middle school teacher who is selling his novel. Jack (TV actor from 'Wings', Thomas Hayden Church) is an actor who does voice-overs for prescription drugs commercials and about to take the plunge into marriage. The college buddies run off to the vineyards of Northern California for a week of wine and golf, and get some tail from the locals. Along the way we find out that Miles is hurting from his bitter divorce and Jack is still a womanizer without a conscience. The week gets crazier as it passes and the bond of friendship is still as strong as ever when they meet up with 2 beautiful local women (Virginia Madsen is stunning, and Sandra Oh of 'Arliss' is sexy as hell). The problem is that Miles is a mess and Jack is just a heel.
"Sideways" is Payne's finest movie yet (tough to top his last 2) and it looks like a Hal Ashby flick from the 70's. Full of fine actors and top notch script, along with some of the best belly laughs all year. If somebody at the studios got hold of this, it would have been ruined with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Giamatti and Church are excellent comic actors who have the acting power to do hard dramatic script. Beware of some full frontal nude shots (biker actor M.C. Gainey!!!!!!!) and enough wine drinking to kill a Cyclopes. Madsen is amazingly hot for an over 40 chick and she can act. Giamatti deserves something more than praise, maybe it's his year to get a nomination. Cheers....but I'm not drinking fucking Merlot!
The Big Man (http://www.browntownjohnny.com/index.php )
Heartbeat is a Love Beat