Sideways (DVD)

Nominated for five Academy Awards and winner for best screenplay adapted from an outside source, Sideways turned out to be one of the blockbusters surprise 2004. Based on Rex Pickett's novel of the same name, Sideways is a clever comedy about wine, life, and a group of friends – each in search of his original identity. Unlike the plot-driven movies that traditionally dominate Hollywood, Sideways is one of those rare figures who actually "reads" like a novel. The film reminds Seinfeld in that it's really about nothing, but it's all at the same time. With very little to talk about in the way of plot, the film relies heavily on developing their characters peculiar and, in this aspect, Sideways is smashing success. Something about the movie (which I can not put my finger on) makes me love him, and I'm willing to bet that you will enjoy it very much …

Paul Giamatti plays the role of Miles Raymond, a professor of middle-aged, recently divorced high struggling to publish his book, The Day After Yesterday (which is, of course, "today" – but not the same). The film begins when Miles takes the university Jack (Thomas Haden Church) to a bachelor party excursion weeks in vineyards of Napa Valley. With a week left as a single man, Jack is scheduled for a week of drunkenness and debauchery – but Miles is at your way. Suffering from a mild depression, Miles wants to taste the wine and does not swallow it, talk to a woman instead of sleeping with her, and generally act as an obstacle in any plans for Jack.

But when Jack Miles pushes to chase his friend waitress Maya (Virginia Madsen), life takes a turn for Miles. Meanwhile, Jack has a torrid affair with Maya's friend Stephanie (Sandra Oh), none of the women learned of the impending marriage of Jack. When the truth about the marriage of Jack escapes, snack threatens to destroy the relationship of each character with the others …

Often hilarious, sometimes deeply symbolic, Sideways runs bidding emotion human. Moreover, the lack of a batch manufactured model serves the purpose of keeping the audience on edge. You never quite know what to expect next. Thomas Haden Church (former fame Lowell Mather on Wings, one of my all time favorite sitcoms) shows his diversity as an actor in his fascinating portrait of the aggressive, hormone-driven Jack. Determined to live a week of wild drunken sexual conquest before his wedding day, Jack's behavior self-destructive compulsion is in contrast to the attitude paralyzed, low risk of Miles. Together, Haden Church and Giamatti create an unforgettable combination screen.

And it is this powder keg mix of relations between Jack Miles, Maya, Stephanie and giving Sideways seductive taste of cinema. Virginia Madsen received his own Oscar nomination to go along with Thomas Haden Church, but the indications Oscar could have easily gone to Paul Giamatti and Sandra Oh In short, the wave Sideways hills of California wine country as well as the peaks and valleys of human experience. It a movie about life and the decisions and relationships, happiness and everything else. More importantly, is one of the most interesting and enjoyable movies of recent years, several and that is why Sideways is a definite must-see movie …

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Sideways (DVD).

Black Pearl in Ayia Napa june 2009 and captain Jack Sparrow as a DJ