Sideways deserves Oscar glory

Director Payne chalks up another success - and one with much associated talk of Oscars.

Sideways

Director: Alexander Payne

Cast: Thomas Haden Church, Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Patrick Gallagher, Alex Kalognomos

Cert: 15

Director Payne, who brought us the excellent About Schmidt, chalks up another success - and one with much associated talk of Oscars - with this charming ‘road’ movie.

The story, full of quirks, is that of fortysomething wannabe writer and lover of fine wines Miles (Giamatti) and his not-too-successful actor pal Jack (Church) on a journey of self-discovery.

Jack, about to be married, is anxious to find a bit of nookie before he ties the knot and Miles just wants to get drunk in the California wine country; though if a bit of nookie comes his way he won’t turn it down.

In a small town they meet two likely ladies (the wonderful Madsen and Oh, who is Payne’s real-life wife) and things develop.

Payne has the ability to come up with characters we can relate to, however feckless they might initially appear. And he has two great central characters, and actors, in Miles/Giamatti and Jack/Church, so richly and warmly drawn that we feel part of their lives and their adventures.

It’s a gem of a movie, highly intelligent and literate and it deserves Oscar glory.

Star Rating: 5/5