"Sideways" (2004) Directed by Alexander Payne

So how does Director Alexander Payne take a depressed writer, a sex mad lothario and two beautiful ladies who collide into their detestable world and turn it into Oscar gold? Quite expertly indeed now that you ask!

Sideways is littered with highly comedic interludes, from Jack chasing a drunk Miles down a hill into a vineyard to a deliberate car crash that goes horribly awry, to Miles hilariously rescuing his friend’s wallet (and wedding rings) before escaping from a large swinging penis! There are many, many more such scenes to enjoy. The film is edited brilliantly by long time collaborator Kevin Tent and with the inclusion of rolling split screens the narrative moves at a tremendous pace throughout and highly complimented by Rolfe Kent’s jazz infused soundtrack that only deviates to a simple piano tune to highlight Mile’s highs and lows. One short scene typifies the genius of Alexander Payne’s directing as he employs every camera angle possible (above, below, obtuse and oblique and especially extreme close up) on Miles’ angry, drunken and desperate telephone call to his ex-wife. Giamatti plays it heartbreakingly well but Payne’s directing takes the short scene to another level of intensity as he backs and stifles an already desperate man into a metaphorical corner with his camera.

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The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Sideways" I penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 13th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/sideways-2004-a3adeb3162f5

This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 5 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via e-book, each volume is priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free:

Volume 5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW

All 7 Volumes

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

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