Sideways

Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Rated R

          “Sideways” is easily the best film so far this year, and is directed by Alexander Payne (“About Schmidt.”) This film is a wonderful character study about wine, love, life, and depression.

            Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes a road trip with Jack (Thomas Haden Church) one week before Jack’s wedding. Miles, a wine enthusiast, wants Jack to experience the fine qualities of wine that Miles has been savoring for years. Jack, however, is interested in meeting as many women as he can before he gets married. Soon enough, Jack hooks Miles up with Maya (Virginia Madsen), a waitress, while Jack begins dating Stephanie (Sandra Oh.) What follows is a fascinating journey between two men who find more than just fine wineries on their trip.

            “Sideways” is filled with fantastic performances, from Giamatti’s depressed and divorced Miles to Church’s uproarious and loveable Jack. If “Sideways” gets ignored by the Oscars, I truly believe that someone should start a boycott of that overrated awards show.

 
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