Sideways

With apologies to Clint Eastwood, Alexander Payne's hilarious yet poignant buddy movie was easily the best American film of 2004. Delightfully subtle and unpredictable, Sideways departs topographically from the Nebraska of the director's previous films (Citizen Ruth, Election, and About Schmidt), but retains the wonderfully natural, unfussy style and deeply humanistic perspective. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church give nuanced, vibrant performances as two dissimilar guys, entering none too comfortably into middle age, while maintaining a tenuous college friendship. Miles (Giamatti) is a dyspeptic teacher and would-be novelist, still distraught over the collapse of his marriage, who fancies himself a wine connoisseur, while Jack (Church) is a grubby, third-rate actor about to wed a woman whose father promises him a job in real estate. Prior to the nuptials, the unlikely pals take off on a tour of some Napa Valley, California vineyards, but while Miles is hoping for a nice sedate trip, Jack's looking for action for them both, and he not only becomes involved with an ebullient wine-pourer (Sandra Oh) but also encourages Miles to connect with a sensitive waitress (Virginia Madsen). The Oscar-winning screenplay keeps the characters recognizably human even as it plays on their quirks and foibles, and by the end all have become rich, rounded figures with the complex textures of the fine wines they quaff. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: Available in either widescreen or full screen versions, DVD extras include audio commentary by costars Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, seven deleted scenes (18 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (7 min.), Easter eggs, and a trailer. Bottom line: a fine extras package for one of 2004's best films.] (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 19, 2009—Fox, 127 min., R, $29.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2004's Sideways features a great transfer and a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Blu-ray extras are identical to the previous DVD release, including audio commentary by costars Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, seven deleted scenes (18 min.), a behind-the-scenes featurette (7 min.), and a trailer. Bottom line: a wonderful comedy makes a fine debut in Blu.]