Miles (Paul Giamatti) is a failed writer, earning a living as an English teacher in San Diego. His best friend Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) is a minor television actor. Miles is divorced and depressed. Jack is a womanizer on the verge of getting married.
In the week leading up to Jack’s nuptials, the mismatched pair sets off on a tour of California’s wine country. Miles wants to give Jack a good send-off with seven days of golf, wine and food. Jack just wants to have a final fling.
In the bar of their motel they meet Maya (a wonderfully expressive Virginia Madsen), a waitress Miles has met on previous wine tastings, and her feisty friend Stephanie (Sandra Oh). Jack hooks up with Stephanie, which throws Miles and Maya together. The four spend most of the week together, and Miles finds himself increasingly attracted to Maya.
When he accidentally lets slip that they have to get back to San Diego for Jack’s wedding – a subject neither man had brought up – the relationships quickly turn sour. Will Miles be able to convince Maya to trust him again? And will Jack actually make it down the aisle and commit to one woman?
Wine Plays the Lead Role
Directed by Alexander Payne, Sideways (2004) is first and foremost an ode to wine. Set against the backdrop of California’s rolling hills and sundrenched vineyards, the color, aroma and taste of wine are lyrically described, usually by the knowledgeable but nerdy Miles. Complementing the wine is the story of getting older and facing up to one’s failures, as well as the possibility of finding love in middle age.
Miles, whose heart is in the right place but whose social ineptitude makes his attempts to connect with Maya painful and fumbling, provides many of the movie’s poignant moments. Jack, with his questionable relationship morals and ignorance of wine, except its inebriating effects, provides the humor. At one wine tasting, during which Miles goes to some lengths to describe the tasting process, he is furious to discover Jack has been chewing gum the entire time.
Thoughtful, Intelligent Script
Sideways is beautifully shot – in fact, it could hardly sell California better if it tried – and the script is intelligent and thoughtful. The pace of the movie is slow, but this only provides more time to savor each scene. Highly recommended for fans of good cinema and good wine.
Click here for a review of Bottle Shock, another film about wine set in California, starring Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman and Chris Pike.
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