MOVIE - SIDEWAYS - Review Rating $$$$$ $$1/2 (OUT OF 10)

STARRING - Paul Giamatti (Miles), Thomas Haden Church (Jack), Virginia Madsen (Maya), Sandra Oh (Stephanie), Marylouise Burke (Miles' mother) & Jessica Hecht (Victoria).

DIRECTOR - Alexander Payne

Sideways true strength is its attempt to infuse the buddy movie genre with insight instead of one liners. The bonds that tie these former college roommates together are very thin. This odd couple sticks by each other, through thick and thin, because they apparently don't have anyone else to cling too. That degree of honesty, in a "major motion picture", is refreshingly depressing.

Sideways does have a few weaknesses. The degree of character development doesn't justify the two hour plus length of the movie. The wine aficionado subplot also lacks robustness. For all of the story's depth it fails to tackle the issue of alcoholism head on. Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) would also no doubt be appalled by the script's failure to even remotely suggest drinking and driving isn't a bright idea.

Sideways, like a good wine, has to be savoured to be appreciated. Upon deeper introspection, however, you'll come to the conclusion that this offbeat buddy film needed a little more flavour to be considered a classic.

Running time - 124 minutes

Roger Ebert's Review

Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review

Rotten Toatoes Review

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