Sideways
Directed by Alexander Payne, Sideways follows Miles (Paul Giamatti), who is distressed about his lack of success as a novelist, and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), an equally unsuccessful actor with a rapidly approaching wedding. In a last-ditch effort to sow their wild oats, Jack and Miles take off on a final road trip to California's wine country the week prior to Jack's wedding. Both men have goals for the vacation -- Miles wants to turn Jack on to the art of wine tasting, while Jack is concerned with exploiting his last days as a bachelor -- but when the two men come across two fascinating women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh), the duo is forced to examine their morality, and if maturity isn't such a depressing prospect -- at least, for one of them.
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti,Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke
The characters are played not by the first actors you would think of casting, but by actors who will prevent you from ever being able to imagine anyone else in their roles.
It's an intoxicating feeling when a movie excites and enlivens us like this -- and there's a particular giddiness to be had in thinking about what movies can (but don't often) do for one's soul after imbibing such a fine vintage.
Pure movie bliss.
Payne's little marvel.
This is a building-block movie: Its stand-out excellence becomes apparent only gradually.
Movie of the Year
AFI Awards (2005)
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards (2005)
Best Edited Feature Film - Comedy or Musical
American Cinema Editors (2005)
Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera)
Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards (2006)
Best Screenplay - Adapted
BAFTA Awards (2005)
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