Anyone see the movie "Sideways"?

[Deb in IA]

Rented it this weekend.


Interesting picture. Sort of a "buddy"/midlife crisis/dramedy movie.

On the surface, the theme is about California wine tasting tours . . . but it's really not about wine.

And while there are some truly hilarious scenes, it's really not a comedy either.

I was really impressed with Paul Giamatti. He was excellent in both broad physical comedy and in the more subtle moments, when he was describing the pinot grape as an analogy of his own life.

Virginia Madsen was wonderful as well.

Anyone else see this movie? What did you think of it?

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

I thought it was an odd movie. You are right, there are some really FUNNY scenes. I think it will be a movie that after you watch it again, you might even like it more. I thought some of it should have ended up on the cutting room floor.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I LOVE this movie. I thought it was so funny.

If anyone orders Merlot I'm leaving!

 

[jbdreamer]

I thought it was terribly boring. And there were absolutely no likeable qualities about any of the character's. It was one of the worst movies I saw all year. I do not recommend.

 

[cardaway]

As much as I liked Paul Giamatti before Sideways, he was more fantasic than ever in this movie.

Who shocked me the most in that movie was Thomas Haden Church. The guy from Wings has come a long way.

I agree that the movie is hard to place in a genre, maybe that's why it's so good. But at the same time, movies like that never do well at the box office because people like genre pictures.

Another Paul Giamatti gem is American Splendor. Good movie, good performance.

 

[cardaway]

And there were absolutely no likeable qualities about any of the character's.

Which was pretty much the point. Lots of movies are like that.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I thought it was terribly boring. And there were absolutely no likeable qualities about any of the character's. It was one of the worst movies I saw all year. I do not recommend.

We watched it on the flight to Hawaii last year - Ditto what jbdreamer says. I thought this was a really STUPID movie.

 

[Pam]

I have never seen the movie, but is that the one that Sandra Oh starred in?

I love her in Grey's Anatomy!

 

[disneysteve]

It was quite good in a very bizzare kind of way. I agree that some scenes were absolutely hysterical though I wouldn't call the movie a comedy. It was slow moving at times, but it was that kind of film. We enjoyed it.

 

[christinadei]

I have never seen the movie, but is that the one that Sandra Oh starred in?

I love her in Grey's Anatomy!

Yes, that's it. I love her in Grey's anatomy, but I too thought this movie was really stupid.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Pam, Sandra Oh was in it. I thought that it was a great movie - it is one of those Artsy Fartsy movies (and I say this with the utmost love and respect for Artsy Fartsy movies.) You have to be into that sort of thing to really enjoy this movie. I have loved Paul Giamatti since he was in The Negotiator and have been waiting for him to have a true starring role.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I enjoyed the movie.

 

[Castlebound]

My DH and I watched the movie when it first came out on video. At the end of the movie I was left feeling like it was an ok movie but I find it very hard to like a movie when I don't like any of the characters.

 

[Deb in IA]

Alexander Payne, the director, also made "Election" and "About Schmidt", and his dry sense of humor is evident in all three of these 'different' movies.

 

[ScoJo15]

Can't believe no one mentioned Thomas Haden Church's performance!! He was hilarious in this movie.

Jack: Do not drink too much. Do you hear me? I don't want you passing out or going to the dark side. No going to the dark side!
Miles Raymond: Okay!

 

[BlingBlingJoe]

Watching it on DVR right now, halfway through it and it's great.

 

[Cindy B]

Interesting, but not fantastic movie. The F bombs were very frequent though. Paul Giamatti's character was pretty well thought out.

I found it interesting because that part of the country is different than my own, and the wine info was very exact and informative.

I wouldn't rent it again or buy it, and my DH would have hated it if he watched it.

One scene was very funny, but other than that it was more of a drama.

 

[GoodFairies]

I just saw Sideways last week and really liked it. I've been a Thomas Haden Church fan for about 10 years, and he does not disappoint. Another really, really good movie I saw a few days ago was Maria Full of Grace.

 

[kerrynic78]

Watched it last night

Loved It

 

[hugsquared]

It was quite good in a very bizzare kind of way.

Exactly. I actually liked it a lot more than I thought I would. It was Sandra Oh that got me curious about it..."I need to be spanked". But as the above poster said...good in a bizzare kind of way.