Sideways

I finally got to watch Sideways tonight. It was a pretty great movie directed by Alexander Payne. I really like his work a lot. I was first exposed to his darkly comedic style through Election but I have to say that my favorite work of his at this point is About Schmidt.

Sideways follow to men played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church as they travel to the California wine valley for a last hurrah before Church's character is to get married. Giamatti's character is a depressed writer who loves wine and wants the perfect experience while Church's only wants to party. Both actors shine under Payne's direction and I felt that I could relate to some of the uneasiness and self-doubt of the characters.

About halfway through, I couldn't help but think that this is like the movie Swingers except that it's characters are at middle age instead of mid-to-late twenties. It was a very funny movie yet darkly so at times. And of course it had the now patented Alexander Payne style ending.

Since I'm not much of a movie reviewer, I'd say just take my word for it, but if you want a review that will give plot details, check out the Filthy Critic. He gave it four out of five fingers which is a rarity to say the least. Whatever you do, don't give up on it if you feel that it is starting too slow and isn't going anywhere. That is typical of Payne's style, but trust me, it is worth the wait.