Well I finally saw 'Sideways' last night....

[Richardo]

...it was a lot darker than I was expecting. I may have to see it again just to get a better sense of the movie.

The surprise male full frontal nudity was a show stopper (and quite hilarious).

[KurtNYC]

1. Is it wine snobbery?

That's all I see in the promos.

[Richardo]

3. Giamatti's snobbery is pretty funny.

That's what I was expecting from the promos.

But there's a whole relationship-infidelity-cruelty aspect that I did not expect...threw me for a loop, really. That's why I want to see it again.

[Jessica]

2. That was a 'bit' of a shock, wasn't it?

I really enjoyed that movie - it was much deeper than I had anticipated. Last night, I watched Donnie Darko for the first time. I'm still trying to swallow that one. :crazy:

[LeftyDarthBrodie]

9. Off topic

Did you see the theatrical version or the director's cut of Donnie Darko?

"Sideways" was good, hyped a bit too much. I liked it more than "About Schmidt" but not nearly as much as "Citizen Ruth" or "Election."

[Jessica]

11. I'm not sure ...

It was a rental - but I did watch all the extended scenes.

[LeftyDarthBrodie]

15. okay

I'd seen the threatrical version several times before the director's cut. The director's cut is easier to understand, in my opinion. More clarity on the time travel issues.

[terrya]

4. I liked "Sideways" quite a lot...

and no, not because of the full frontal. :-)

It is a dark film...but quite funny. It was rather touching as well...particularly the ending.

Everyone...from Paul Giamatti (who should have been nominated for an Oscar for his role) to Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen (who both were nominated for Oscars) to Sandra Oh...gave terrific performances.

I see where the "Sideways" DVD is under $30....I may have to buy it.

[Richardo]

5. I did like it overall and the ending was hopeful, which I also liked.

And Mr. Full-Frontal was NOT what anyone would call eye-candy. :)

[smirkymonkey]

6. I just saw it too and for the life of me can't understand why it

was so critically acclaimed.

Everything, from the script, photography, direction, some of the acting, character development and the incessant, obnoxious discussion of wine, was mediocre at BEST.

I didn't find it funny, insightful or even very entertaining. I was pretty bored throughout and I found the characters quite contemptible with the exception of Maya. However her wine monologue, ending with "...and it tastes fucking great" was cringe-worthy.

There were a few amusing moments, but the annoyingness of the two main characters counteracted what little was positive about the film.

Also, someone like Virginia Madson would never "fall" for someone like Paul Giametti in real life. That was such a stretch as to be completely unbelievable and there was absolutely no chemistry between them, so it didn't even really work as a love story.

[Skittles]

7. I found it to be ok entertainment

but feel it was WAY overrated - and the acting was good but NOT stellar.

[Aiptasia]

8. I disagree

I thought it was an excellent screenplay and very well acted by actors that often get passed over for leading roles. Virginia Madsen's speech about why she likes wine was magnificent, and Paul Giamatti's wine snobbery was perfectly mated to his nitpicky anal character.

My only beef was with the ending, where Paul's character pops the bottle of "le pin" and drinks it alone out of a styrofoam cup at a burger joint. I would have rather he show up on Virginia Madsen's doorstep with the bottle in-tact and ready to share.

I thought all of the characters were believeable, and could have all been people i've known in my own life.

Virginia Madsen was looking amazing in that film. Like wine, she's getting mas fina with age.

[Richardo]

10. This just occurred to me, but maybe the day he had the '61 at the diner...

...was the day he wrote the letter to Maya that she referred to in her voice mail. :shrug:

[Brotherjohn]

13. Well, I initially thought he should take the bottle to her.

But when he sat their drinking it alone, I felt he was finally coming to terms with his life and putting a lot behind him. He was shaking off a lot of old demons, and coming to terms with himself, accepting himself. He could therefore take the next step in his life with confidence (thus the knock at Maya's door). I felt it was an extraordinarily positive ending, without hitting you over the head.

While his friend's character was rather sad and pathetic, Giamatti's character had potential. His "wine snobbery", while truly a passion of his, was also symptomatic of severe psychological trauma and possibly obsessive-compulsive disorder. He also used it merely as a cover for his alcoholism.

Generally, the wine was a vehicle for the plot. For most of the movie, they were obviously just hiding their dysfunctional lives behind the veneer of "enjoying fine wine". But it was pretty obvious they were just pathetic barflies going nowhere.

My thought is that, with Maya, he can move on to enjoy his passion for wine, and all other aspects of life, in a much healthier way.

And as far as the other post questioning her falling for him... she needs him as much as he needs her (well, maybe not QUITE as much). She obviously had some baggage.

[fluffernutter]

27. i agree. great assessment.

it was about so much more than wine.

i loved it and felt like i really knew these people.

[sbj405]

23. Funny story

More than one person has come to me to "confide" that they didn't really like it either. I thought it was ok, but nothing great as well. It was sort of funny, because they felt like they didn't want to admit to not liking it b/c everyone else liked it. Very high school-esque.

[smirkymonkey]

26. It's interesting to see how that works - a lot of people simply

jump on the bandwagon.

If you go on some film websites with member reveiws, you will see that almost as many people hated it as loved it and very few in the middle.

[XNASA]

12. You disrobed in the theater?

Stadium seating? Good god.

[Richardo]

14. I *said* it was a surprise!

And they were, too. :)

[GalleryGod]

16. Sideways -"Spin off Factoid" Pinot Grigio!

Can't keep it on the shelves from NYC to L.A.:woohoo:

After Giamatti's "Homage to Grigio Soliloquy":popcorn:

[Richardo]

17. Ah, but it was Pinot *Noir*

Your point remains, though.

People are also taking the same road trip through Santa Barbara County and hitting the same vineyards, restaurants, etc.

[GalleryGod]

22. You are cor-RECT,Sir!

Think W drinks, MERLOT????:puke:

By the gallon!:smoke:

[skygazer]

18. Haven't seen it yet

But my sales of Pinot Noirs are definitely up and I believe that movie is the reason. :shrug: Whatever works.

[Bunny]

19. Sounds interesting.

Maybe I'll rent the DVD this weekend. Full frontal? Could be worth the cost! :)

[Richardo]

20. Let me know after you see it...

...it's NOT eye candy, no matter what your sexual orientation. But it IS funny.

[Shakespeare]

21. Yup. The Harvey Keitel effect. n/t

[The Donkey]

24. I thought Paul Giamatti was overlooked by the Oscar committee

Not necessarily that he should have won, but I did think he was the strongest thing in the movie, and practically everyone else associated with it received at least a nomination.

[4_Legs_Good]

25. It's big here in Santa Barbara county

of course.

My own town of Lompoc is all pissed because two segments were filmed in Lompoc, and they didn't say "thank you" in the credits.

We suck, though, so we probably didn't do anything to help and hence didn't deserve much credit. I hate our city council and mayor.

I haven't seen the movie yet...

david