Comments on: Sideways (2004) http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/ Film reviews and commentary tonight, before I forget tomorrow Wed, 23 May 2012 23:29:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Pat Evans http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-5003 Pat Evans Fri, 30 May 2008 05:20:23 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-5003 This is one great little movie which will live on as a cult favorite for many viewers, while others will remain impervious to its charms. Small, character-driven films are not for everyone -- nor should they be. This is one great little movie which will live on as a cult favorite for many viewers, while others will remain impervious to its charms. Small, character-driven films are not for everyone — nor should they be.

]]> By: Daniel http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4981 Daniel Tue, 27 May 2008 22:19:03 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4981 I like Sideways more and more with each viewing. I really can't relate to any of the characters, but it's enough just to watch Giamatti and Haden Church together. Any other casting choice may have sunk this gem. I like Sideways more and more with each viewing. I really can’t relate to any of the characters, but it’s enough just to watch Giamatti and Haden Church together. Any other casting choice may have sunk this gem.

]]> By: AR http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4980 AR Tue, 27 May 2008 21:26:38 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4980 <i>Lost in Translation</i> is a comedy? I thought it was a drama, but I liked it more than <i>Sideways</i>. <i>Wedding Crashers</i>, no comment. Haven't seen it, not desperate to see it any time soon. The only recent comedy I've seen that I've really deeply liked is <i>The 40 Year Old Virgin</i>. Does that make it better? I'm not sure. I think I could say that <i>Sideways</i> is more obviously well crafted and thoughtful. Recalling some of my issues, while I choose not to speculate about Payne and Oh's relationship, I did find Oh's reaction cliched and awfully hasty for one night's worth of romance. Was the characterization of the chubby waitress and her cuckolded husband really that deep? The resolution with Madsen's character leaving that message...I dunno if that really worked for me. I do think the critics lavished praise for the reasons laid out by Payne. It's not a slick movie, it takes its time, it focuses more on characters than action. That sort of thing is such a rarity these days that when people see it they sometimes get over-zealous in their excitement. Lost in Translation is a comedy? I thought it was a drama, but I liked it more than Sideways.
Wedding Crashers, no comment. Haven’t seen it, not desperate to see it any time soon.
The only recent comedy I’ve seen that I’ve really deeply liked is The 40 Year Old Virgin. Does that make it better? I’m not sure. I think I could say that Sideways is more obviously well crafted and thoughtful.

Recalling some of my issues, while I choose not to speculate about Payne and Oh’s relationship, I did find Oh’s reaction cliched and awfully hasty for one night’s worth of romance. Was the characterization of the chubby waitress and her cuckolded husband really that deep? The resolution with Madsen’s character leaving that message…I dunno if that really worked for me.
I do think the critics lavished praise for the reasons laid out by Payne. It’s not a slick movie, it takes its time, it focuses more on characters than action. That sort of thing is such a rarity these days that when people see it they sometimes get over-zealous in their excitement.

]]> By: Marilyn http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4972 Marilyn Mon, 26 May 2008 18:04:39 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4972 Yuppie isn't exactly a demographic to me--it's a state of mind. Madsen certainly played a well-fleshed character, but I felt like Payne was making Oh into a caricature, particularly with her bashing Haden-Church with her helmet. Damn, she almost killed him! There was trouble in the Payne/Oh marriage that made its way to the screen. Oh, and has Madsen had another great role since then? Sexism in the industry cancels out sexism on the screen in this case, though that's not the fault of the movie, of course. Yuppie isn’t exactly a demographic to me–it’s a state of mind. Madsen certainly played a well-fleshed character, but I felt like Payne was making Oh into a caricature, particularly with her bashing Haden-Church with her helmet. Damn, she almost killed him! There was trouble in the Payne/Oh marriage that made its way to the screen.

Oh, and has Madsen had another great role since then? Sexism in the industry cancels out sexism on the screen in this case, though that’s not the fault of the movie, of course.

]]> By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4959 Joe Valdez Mon, 26 May 2008 02:28:50 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4959 <strong>Joseph:</strong> The drunk dialing of the ex-wife was my favorite scene. It's so easy to imagine the bad version of that scene in some dumb romantic comedy. Here was a movie that instead of going to the audience, asked the audience come to it, if that makes sense. <strong>Chuck:</strong> I think you have to credit Rex Pickett. As a guy, I have gone through my occasional Miles moment I'm not happy to say - like the encounter with the ex - but it's so rare you see that captured in fiction in a believable way. I can't believe I still haven't seen <em>About Schmidt</em>. Thanks for giving me another rental idea and for commenting! <strong>Marilyn:</strong> I didn't get the sense this movie had anything to do with Yuppies. Neither Miles or Jack are exactly young and they're certainly not professionals; they're pretty much losers in their careers and life. I'm surprised you felt there was a chauvinist slant here. I thought the female characters were imbued with a genuine voice and strength and one of the female reviewers I mention did as well. <strong>AR</strong>: Yeah, I think maybe if you substitute "wine" with "film" a lot of critics could see themselves as Miles, particularly in the looks department. This could be one reason why all the reviews were so positive. However, I don't know how many other recent comedies you could say were better than this one. <em>Lost In Translation</em>? <em>Wedding Crashers</em>? Those to me were vastly overrated. Joseph: The drunk dialing of the ex-wife was my favorite scene. It’s so easy to imagine the bad version of that scene in some dumb romantic comedy. Here was a movie that instead of going to the audience, asked the audience come to it, if that makes sense.

Chuck: I think you have to credit Rex Pickett. As a guy, I have gone through my occasional Miles moment I’m not happy to say – like the encounter with the ex – but it’s so rare you see that captured in fiction in a believable way. I can’t believe I still haven’t seen About Schmidt. Thanks for giving me another rental idea and for commenting!

Marilyn: I didn’t get the sense this movie had anything to do with Yuppies. Neither Miles or Jack are exactly young and they’re certainly not professionals; they’re pretty much losers in their careers and life. I’m surprised you felt there was a chauvinist slant here. I thought the female characters were imbued with a genuine voice and strength and one of the female reviewers I mention did as well.

AR: Yeah, I think maybe if you substitute “wine” with “film” a lot of critics could see themselves as Miles, particularly in the looks department. This could be one reason why all the reviews were so positive. However, I don’t know how many other recent comedies you could say were better than this one. Lost In Translation? Wedding Crashers? Those to me were vastly overrated.

]]> By: AR http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4956 AR Sun, 25 May 2008 23:15:52 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4956 I personally found this film highly overrated, though I'll grant that it had reasonably good dialogue and was altogether well made. It's been a few years since I've seen it, so I'd need to refresh my memory regarding the details as to why. I personally found this film highly overrated, though I’ll grant that it had reasonably good dialogue and was altogether well made. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, so I’d need to refresh my memory regarding the details as to why.

]]> By: Marilyn http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4937 Marilyn Sat, 24 May 2008 17:25:51 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4937 I have to admit that neither the hubby nor I liked <i>Sideways</i>. Yes, I know that yuppies---somewhere down there--are people, too. But neither of us could get away from the idea that this was just another one of their facile attempts at being real. I am glad it catapulted Paul Giamatti into a real career, but that's about all I can say for it. Photographing Oh with her legs in the air was an unnecessarily humiliating way for Payne to deal with her character - no wonder they're divorced now. I have to admit that neither the hubby nor I liked Sideways. Yes, I know that yuppies—somewhere down there–are people, too. But neither of us could get away from the idea that this was just another one of their facile attempts at being real. I am glad it catapulted Paul Giamatti into a real career, but that’s about all I can say for it. Photographing Oh with her legs in the air was an unnecessarily humiliating way for Payne to deal with her character – no wonder they’re divorced now.

]]> By: Chuck http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4925 Chuck Thu, 22 May 2008 16:24:13 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4925 Sideways is one of the few modern movies that I'm comfortable calling one of my favorite movies (period). It's warm, generous, human, and, while I love Payne's work in general (excluding Citizen Ruth which I find overrated) Sideways represents major growth, particularly in spirit. Schmidt is tremendously moving (love that ending) but Payne cheats a little in the portrayal of many of the side characters, retreating into caricature. Sideways plays fair from start to finish, with four rich, off the path performances that refuse to highlight for the cheap seats. Favorite moments? Virtually every scene in the movie-but a major devastater is Miles' ex-wife's revelation that she's pregnant-Giamatti's face crumbles, briefly, swallowing the disappointment, and moves on. Or how about him drinking the wine in the burger place? The ending is even nearly as devastating a promise of hope amongst hopelessness as Schmidt's, and tremendously earned. A masterpiece. Thank you for this coverage. Sideways is one of the few modern movies that I’m comfortable calling one of my favorite movies (period). It’s warm, generous, human, and, while I love Payne’s work in general (excluding Citizen Ruth which I find overrated) Sideways represents major growth, particularly in spirit. Schmidt is tremendously moving (love that ending) but Payne cheats a little in the portrayal of many of the side characters, retreating into caricature. Sideways plays fair from start to finish, with four rich, off the path performances that refuse to highlight for the cheap seats. Favorite moments? Virtually every scene in the movie-but a major devastater is Miles’ ex-wife’s revelation that she’s pregnant-Giamatti’s face crumbles, briefly, swallowing the disappointment, and moves on. Or how about him drinking the wine in the burger place?

The ending is even nearly as devastating a promise of hope amongst hopelessness as Schmidt’s, and tremendously earned. A masterpiece. Thank you for this coverage.

]]> By: Joseph http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/comment-page-1/#comment-4919 Joseph Thu, 22 May 2008 02:09:24 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/05/21/sideways-2004/#comment-4919 Sideways is a gem of a film that I picked up for 50 cents at the library. It hit me on so many levels throughout the film. Great characters, especially contrasting characteristics between them. That scene that always gets me is the conversation between Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen outside during the double date. Over-the-top symbolic parallels, but I love it. :-) Sideways is a gem of a film that I picked up for 50 cents at the library. It hit me on so many levels throughout the film. Great characters, especially contrasting characteristics between them.

That scene that always gets me is the conversation between Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen outside during the double date. Over-the-top symbolic parallels, but I love it. :-)

]]>