Sideways Review

Much like a fine wine, Alexander Payne seems to be a director whose films get better as he ages so it's somewhat of an irony that the latest offering from the man behind the likes of "Election" and "About Schmidt" should be set in California's grape growing country. The always-excellent Paul Giamatti stars as Miles, an aspiring author who whisks his womanising buddy Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) off for a week's worth of wine tasting, golf and relaxation before the fading TV star's impending nuptials. There the pair meet Maya (Virginia Madsen) and Stephanie (Sandra Oh) and relationships form but these things never run smoothly and soon some very large spanners are thrown into the works.

Now a film about wine and relationships may not sound like everyone's cup of tea but "Sideways" is so exquisitely put together that it succeeds on just about every level. Giamatti is in fine form as the depressed Miles, perfectly capturing the characters melancholy moods while the little known Hayden Church is well worth his Best Supporting Actor nod. But the real star here is Payne and Jim Taylor's script, especially the bittersweet scenes in which Miles and Maya discuss their appreciation for wine, all the while skirting around the real issue of their feelings for each other. The emotion and pathos is balanced by some humour, especially the sight of Giamatti sneaking into another of Jack's conquests homes to try and retrieve his friend's wallet, but the laughs don't detract from the film's power and emotional resonance.

Sideways is one of those rare films that will make you smile, cry and think and as such, it's well worth raising your glass to.