Sideways

[topher]

It was like watching two of my best friends on vacation. Seen it all before.

[Deleted]

I laughed til I cried during BOTH viewings. Maybe its an age thing? I'm over 30 and could relate to all that was going on.

I'm 33 and while I could relate I didn't find it that funny. Parts of it, definitely. Giamatti getting worked up over the Merlot outside the restaurant is hilarious.

But overall I thought it was sort of dark. Giamatti is an alcoholic loser that can't stop obsessing over his ex-wife (who was played by that fucking annoying as hell actress from Friends and a couple of other sitcoms). He can't stand up to his "friend," (Haden Church) who takes advantage of him at every turn. Haden Church is one of those people that are amoral fuckups who have a charmed life. Nothing ever sticks to them no matter what they do. If it hadn't been marketed as a comedy it could have been a gritty drama.

[monkeypants]

I'm still a bit upset that Sideways essentially took Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's "quirky movie" spot at the Oscars/Golden Globes.

IMO, it totally didn't deserve it.

[Benni]

I finally had an evening alone so I rented this movie on the weekend. I hate hate hated it. I think I was expecting it to be funnier. Why on earth would people think Paul Giamatti should have been nominated for an Oscar. He is the same in every single role I have ever seen him in. In my world real men who are friends do not talk to each other the way those two did. I slightly enjoyed Viginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. I wish I had of rented Splanglish, Harold and Kumir go to White Castle or ANYTHING ELSE on my one night to see a movie.

[Deleted]

I wish I had of rented Splanglish, Harold and Kumir go to White Castle or ANYTHING ELSE on my one night to see a movie.

Turst me, you didn't miss anything as far as Spanglish goes.

[workgeordie]

I liked the movie, I would have given it a 4 out of 5. I thought that Paul Giamatti and Sandra Oh were very good in it but I still have problems with the performance of Thomas Haden Church. When he begs for forgivness (is this a spoiler?) his acting looks wooden and I always waited for Miles (Giamatti) to crack up as it seemed so unreal. But now, it was meant to be real?? Thinking of it, this one scene probably should affect my rating and its now a 3 out of 5.

However, one of the funniest line ever "I don't drink fucking Merlot!"

[sjankis630]

However, one of the funniest line ever "I don't drink fucking Merlot!"

My favorite was "Here's your wallet !" Kills me everytime I watch that part on the DVD.

[Deleted]

I thought it was a good buddy movie and had some hilarious lines (as mentioned above). It also had some great physical comedy in it, too.
I did think the male characters did some pretty awful things and didn't display any guilt about them. The treatment of the Sandra Oh character was very "male asshole." Perhaps that is what bugged a lot of people about the movie?

[workgeordie]

Fair enough. I thought the movie got its morals a little bit wrong. For a beaten down man Giamatti was he didn't think twice about trying to convince Haden Church to tell his fiance about what happened. I'm not holier than thou but I thought at least some inner turmoil portrayed by the character could have given it a less blokey appeal.

I also still don't know though why Sandra Oh's character brought her child into the whole affair. For my likeing she moved far too quickly.

I should consult the DVD to see if anything of the above was misinterpreted by me though.

[brinksteria]

For a beaten down man Giamatti was he didn't think twice about trying to convince Haden Church to tell his fiance about what happened. I'm not holier than thou but I thought at least some inner turmoil portrayed by the character could have given it a less blokey appeal.

Yeah, Giamatti's character also financed the weekend by stealing money from his mom's secret stash. He didn't seem like an oblivious sociopath. So, maybe it would have been better if guilt had made him more reticent about judging the cheating.

Or, maybe the movie was about the character finding & ending up with some integrity. In which case, he felt all liberated to judge away!