Thursday, December 28, 2006

Sideways (2004)


Wine and sympathy

Nearly a century ago, California grapes symbolized the rage of the Western American state's poor folks against oppression and economic depression. John Steinbeck immortalized this in his celebrated novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Now, of course, California has become well-known for its wine counties, as Rex Pickett has written in his book Sideways.

There could have been no better choice than Alexander Payne to adapt it to the big screen.

Payne has made a name for his satires about middle-class Americans. He has only four films to his credit, but it looks like he may be the next big thing in American cinema. Sideways does not deal with big issues, as did Payne's first two features, Citizen Ruth and Election. This does not mean, though, that his latest is less impressive.

Sideways starts off as a week of wining and whining. Miles and Jack are two middle-aged friends whose personalities are like water and oil. Jack is about to be married, and Miles is gifting his buddy with a trip to the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley.

As they hit the road and sip the wines, viewers learn that the two are not successful men, and are therefore feeling less than fulfilled with their lives. Miles is struggling to publish his novel; at the same time he is unable to get over his divorce. Jack is a washed-up actor, but isn't exactly despondent about it. In other words, one is still hopeful for something better, and the other is seemingly resigned to his fate.

Their lives take a turn when they meet Maya, a wine-savvy waitress, and Stephanie, a local wine pourer.

Sideways is neither innovative nor searing enough to draw a large number of moviegoers. In fact, none of Payne's works can be considered "commercial." It's appeal lies largely on the feeling that it is personal and intimate. Further, only a few filmmakers cleverly and successfully mix tragedy and comedy.

The brilliant screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor isn't surprising at all. The duo's skills was immediately noticed on their first collaboration, Citizen Ruth. They've been showered with recognition since, none the least of which are two Academy nominations. An Oscar on February 27 is almost a certainty.

Under Payne's helm in previous movies, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick gave possibly their best performances onscreen. In Sideways, Payne gathered a cast of non-A-list actors, which turned out to be a smart idea. Thomas Hayden Church as Jack, Virginia Madsen as Maya, and Paul Giamatti as Miles are unforgettable. Giamatti, especially, portrays sad resignation to an insignificant existence with convincing effectivity.

Audiences will no doubt be amused with the film's deliberations linking wine and life. Yet, underneath the bickering and painfully sharp wit, what Sideways really offers is warmth and a big, loving heart.

(First published in Philippine Daily Inquirer on February 8, 2005)

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home