Sideways (Widescreen Edition)

What a great movie. I saw it a long time ago and I was hankering to watch it again, only none of my subscription services had it for free with my subscription (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime) so I was kinda SOL. I figured I could pay $3.99 to rent it from Amazon Prime for a day or two, or I could pay $3.99 for the DVD and have it forever.I just love this movie. So many memorable scenes. Paul Giamatti's Miles' frustrations are relatable and, when they come to a head, hilarious and instantly classic. Thomas Haden Church, through his character, Jack, does a great job at eliciting conflicting responses from the viewer throughout the movie. One minute, you just wanna backhand him. The next, you feel sorry for him. And hands down he has the best line in the movie. Sandra Oh's performance as Stephanie is top-notch, my favorite part of which is what would be the final interaction between her & Jack and Miles. And Virginia Madsen (Maya) is captivating thoughout the movie, but especially during her candlelit soliloquy where discusses the life of wine. Overall I give this movie 10/10. Paul G. should have won best actor at the Oscars - not that I give a darn about the Academy awards - but his acting sure came a long way since Private Parts and Big Fat Liar.I don't even like wine, but this movie is among my favorites.

Like the storied flavors of wine that this film casually visits, for me, it matures with each and every viewing. At its surface, It is refreshingly simple - yet, vicariously complex. I feel like comforting my friend, Miles, because there have been times that I’ve looked back upon situations, in my past, and yearned for a do-over. I’m talking about those helpless, powerless, regretful feelings that one arrives at whenever he or she finally grows a conscious - those epiphanies.With his witty palette of Bad Luck Schleprockism and prudishness, Giamatti does a fantastic job of mirroring some of our deepest inadequacies. His sidekick, Jack (Church), is the perfect sounding board to frolically annoy the hell out of him, in the process. On the music side of the house, I dig the peppered-in light jazz score that delightfully complements this ‘Odd Couple’-like journey. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, the music is eerily reminiscent of said show.Anyway, I really, really enjoy every layer of this film.One caveat,I haven’t read them all, but I’ve seen a few reviews crying, “chauvinism,” “sexist,” etc. To those narrow-viewed individuals I would say:“This film is a fictionalized microsmic depiction of situations in the lives of characters whose essence somehow entered the mind of their author. Those who, internally, conceive ideas, usually, externally, witness their seeds - at some point. In other words; believe it or not, there are actually real-life flesh & blood characters akin to this film’s, walking amongst us, in the world - at this very second. How can you allow such uncontrollable external factors and situations to ruffle your feathers? Not every person or character, in the world or in a movie, is going to readily conform to your particular decorum, upbringing, and/or context. You should really get used to that notion - and simply educate yourself on what’s actually out in the world.”

i absolutely loved this movie!! it was real and at the same time it was some what sad it also gave me hope for my own love life!! i mean....it was disheartening on the surface but the true message was deeper---and i believe it was simply to be honest with people as to who you are because regardless of what you think about yourself the world is full of people and theres some one who will really appreciate everything u have to offer....

I absolutely love this movie. A touching, hilarious and frustrating look at our complex lives. The two main characters, Jack and Myles, are perfect. Complete opposites playing off each other. I really enjoy when Myles describes why he loves Pinot wine. He explains why he likes it so much and at the same time is describing his own personality. He does the same thing when he describes Chardonnay, which is his friend's personality.Fantastic writing! I'm not a wine fan, but it doesn't matter. This is a great movie for anyone with a pulse.

I first saw this movie when I was 17, and now again at the age of 34. I think that overall it has aged well, though there is a lot that it might have done better. For example, why was the scene with the poor fat waitress and her lower-class husband necessary? Why did it exist other than to say "lol look at these two fat poor people"? I think that was just part of the humor landscape of 2004 that completely failed.There is more good than bad about this movie. For example, the strength, warmth, and motherliness that reliable oozes from Jessica Hecht, who always makes you want to want her and know that you can't have her. There is the stinging, complicated, and confusing magnetism between Maya and Miles; and ostensibly perfect couple who just can't seem to connect at the start. The antics of Jack are shameworthy and horrific, especially dragging Stephanie's child's heart into the matter, but you feel like he really is sorry when he says he is (though he doesn't deserve to be forgiven).And then there is Miles, right? An egomaniac with an obsession for finery and a penchant for wine. Lilting between aficionado and wino, the audience can tell that Miles has experienced a lot of pain. He does so however without really considering those around him until perhaps Jack cries and Miles realizes that his chud buddy is also a human being. He is like a bunch over-ripening on the vine-- waiting to be picked by a publisher, waiting to be a part of his ex's life again. Waiting to be loved and have a decent life. But as he admits in the movie, he is so fragile and immature that he is hard to love, which rings paradoxical to his obvious yearning and pleading for love.This has always been one of my favorite films and I'm happy to say that it still is, plus or minus some lack of awareness from the era of emo hipster dramas of the time.

I blame Rick Stein for my buying this. it was mentioned several times on his road to Mexico series and so I bought it. I like Rick. Oh my days it looks dated now - the plot is thin and it drags on and on...not my cup on tea...or pinot noir !

An understated film that many who love wine will appreciate for its humour and insight to the unnecessarily tangled lives we sometimes lead.

Two floored characters, a teacher and an actor, go on a week's holiday of wine and golf to "kickback" before one gets wed. It sounds a so/so premis and when my partner chose it for an evening's viewing I huffed and moaned audibly thinking of a hundred other jobs needing doing.Of course I was wrong.Hilarious in parts, deeply sad in others, the acting is superb the script is of the kind that can be watched again and again. Giamtti and Hayden-Church are brilliant double act. Giamatti the depressive "Neg-Head" teacher, Hayden Church the self-centerd actor.Catch the commentary by the two actors too. Great Fun.

The first time i watched this movie i thought it wasnt all that good, i guess i expected something different. I was wrong, this a great movie, clever dialogue,amazing acting and leaves one with a feel good factor. This is a moive i can watch again and again, especially with a nice bottle of red. Its low key charm gives it the longevity of a movie worth owning.

Entertainment EXTRAORDINAIRE!