Movie: SIDEWAYS

SIDEWAYS, directed by alexander payne, was the indie-sort-of-comedy darling at the oscars in 2005 sandwiched between the actually good indie-sort-of-comedy LOST IN TRANSLATION and the actually terrible indie-sort-of-comedy LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.

everything i read about this movie prior to its release seemed like it would be something right up my alley. one of the director's previous films was ELECTION, a sharp, dark film i enjoyed highly. it starred paul giamatti, whom i had liked in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and MAN ON THE MOON. the subject prominently featured wine and friendship, two more great things in life. and yet, i never saw it. not in theaters nor on video. maybe i could just sense that i wasn't going to really like this film.

several aspects turned me off. i found paul giamatti's character grating. while he did give a strong performance for most of the film, the inevitable blow up/break down scene happened not once but twice and dragged the characterization closer to base caricature. his friend (portrayed by thomas haden church) was someone with whom i couldn't empathize. a man looking to cheat on his fiance as much as he can before marriage, he only sobs when his wallet and clothes have been stolen. he later goes through with the marriage anyway. the dynamic between the down-on-his-luck giamatti and girl crazy church played like a b movie SWINGERS replacing vegas with napa.

about a week removed from watching it, i can only recall a single scene i liked and for the direction alone. a drunk, bitter giamatti calls his ex-wife in the middle of a dinner date with friends. the camera stays in close focus on giamatti's head from a low angle, highlighting his own egoism and ugliness. the rare instance where the film accurately portrayed one of its characters.