Sideways is a sincere film that establishes a direct connection between wine and humanity, from the time the grapes are grown in the vineyard to the moment they are poured into the glass on the table… While doing this, it also reveals the self-recognition / self-definition processes of the characters in the film.
The poster for Alexander Payne’s 2004 film Sideways depicts two men trapped in a wine bottle. Our characters are in exactly such a situation. On the one hand, Miles (Paul Giamatti), who is divorced from the woman he thought he would live with until the end of his life, whose novel ‘The Day After Yesterday’, which he has been working on for years, has been rejected by publishing houses one after the other, and whose self-confidence has been shattered.
On the other hand, there is Jack (Thomas Haden Church), who has sunk into oblivion after being known for a television series years ago, makes his living by doing commercial voice-overs, and is experiencing indecision and inconsistency because he is about to marry a rich woman. These two dissimilar people, who were accidentally roommates during their university years, set off for a kind of ‘bachelor’ vacation before Jack’s wedding.
As much as Miles is introverted, insecure, responsible and prone to bury himself in the ground; Jack is also so extroverted that he has no difficulty in establishing relationships with people, and is irresponsible and shortsighted. What brings these two different characters together on such a journey is that they see themselves trapped.
This journey, which the duo takes among the vineyards of California, tasting all kinds of wines and talking about their past mistakes and concerns about the future, evolves in a different direction when two women enter their lives. Maya and Stephanie, who entered their lives thanks to Miles’ wine expertise and Jack’s ability to get close to people, add a new dimension to the couple’s journey. While Miles is experiencing the pleasure of being able to have a relationship with a woman again and repairing himself with Maya, whom he has known and admired for a long time; Jack realizes the life he really wants to live, even if it means breaking Stephanie’s heart.
“Just as details such as different climatic conditions, different growing methods, fermentation processes, storage methods and how long it waits determine the taste of a wine; “Every stage a human being goes through redefines his character and maturity,” the film almost whispers to our ears. When the whole journey is over and the story is approaching its completion, Miles and Jack’s most mature time has come. Just like a wine whose time has come to drink, they are now ready to come out of the bottle they are trapped in on the poster.
Just like in the Ken Loach film The Angels’ Share (2012), which tells the story of the change in the lives of a group of troubled adults as they learn the production process of whiskey, the difficult process from grapes to wine guides Miles and Jack to find the ‘way out’, if not salvation. . Moreover, there is no need to wait for a certain time to watch Sideways, the best time is when you watch it!
Sideways (2004)
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht, Missy Doty, Alysia Reiner, Shaun Duke, Stephanie Faracy
Screenplay by: Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Production Design by: Jane Ann Stewart
Cinematography by: Phedon Papamichael
Film Editing by: Kevin Tent
Costume Design by: Wendy Chuck
Set Decoration by: Lisa Fischer, Barbara Haberecht
Art Direction by: T.K. Kirkpatrick
MPAA Rating: R for language, strong sexual content and nudity.
Distributed by: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: October 22, 2004
Sideways, Sideways 2004, Sideways Movie Review, Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht, Missy Doty, Alysia Reiner, Shaun Duke, Stephanie Faracy
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