As someone who misses the late Roger Ebert's wise musings on classic films...this channel is a special find. Enjoyed every one i've watched. Hearty respect to you, Script Sleuth...
One of my very favorites. I must've seen it twenty times. I think it's a perfect screenplay, and the performances are divine. Learned a lot about writing watching this critically. It got me reading Bukowski. I also remember driving Santa Barbara County trying to find the locations from the film. My wife and I re-enacted the "you're getting married on Saturday!?" scene at the "Windmill Hotel" parking lot, with a handbag substituting for a motorcycle helmet. Good times.
I like your interpretation of why he drinks the '61 at the burger joint. Most critiques identify that moment as being his rock bottom, lower than low, but I've never thought that. It's his first step forward in acknowledging reality, which is ultimately a positive thing. Although in the moment, it's very sad indeed.
Exactly! It's a sad place to do it, but he realizes he has no more time to waste. I'd say his lowest point was in the hospital when he leaves the message for Maya, when he says, "You see I'm not much of a writer. I guess I'm not much of anything." It's funny how being at the bottom makes you have the most honesty.
I just rewatched this movie, what a masterpiece, I didn’t want it to end. The scene where Miles is drinking his prized bottle of wine in the fast food joint out of a paper cup is so poignant and hilarious at the same time.
This has to be my favorite 'comfort film' to watch. Have seen it so many times. Love the setting, love the characters, and it always gets me eager to crack open a bottle of good wine I've been saving downstairs for a special occasion. Now when I watch Sideways, THAT's my special occasion.
One of my all time favourites. A fantastic buddy film. Remember watching this in the cinema back in 2005 and everyone was in hysterics. If you get a chance watch it with the commentary by the two main actors a great insight and shows why they had such great chemistry. The scene where Miles meets his ex wife and finds out she is pregnant kills me every time. Sales of Pinot Noir soared and even to this day I only buy this. Enjoy with a large glass of Pinot not Merlot!!!
This movie is in my top 5 favorite movies. I watch it on Sunday evenings, and when it ends, I&m ready to watch it again. I would love to see this movie with the introduction that is in the book of Myles at the wine tasting the previous night.
LOVE this film! Since it’s release, I watch it periodically & never tire of seeing it. On the contrary, I look forward to repeat viewings as if I were revisiting old friends. IMO this film only continues to improve with age like a fine bottle of Pinot that never peaks.
Fantastic analysis here. 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Sideways, and it remains my favorite American comedy released this century. Considering the other great comedies released in the last two decades (The 40 Year-Old-Virgin, Superbad, Tropic Thunder, Bridesmaids, etc.), that is saying something. I knew that as friends, Miles and Jack, had some similarities, but had not realized how much they were alike, even in their flaws. Kudos for spoting those. Still, I think the road trip--while the centerpiece of the film--is also the beginning of the end of their relationship. While Miles shows loyalty to Jack in some ways, he also chafes at Jack's prodding. Jack, by contrast, does not care for Miles's negativity. The difference is that Jack dismisses Miles as going to "the dark side" or having "one of his freakouts." Jack in his own way is still living in his past, so he still think he can count on his "main man" Miles. For Miles, there is a sense he has outgrown his old college roomate. Like any real-life break up, it is messy, and does not happen all at once. It is shown in the bickering with Jack, but even in more profound ways. Miles undermines their relationship when he reveals to Maya the lie Jack would not like get out. One can argue about the morality of cheating on one's fiancee, but on some level, Miles would prefer to damage his friend than to live in his lies. This later reaches its zenith when Miles drives away and does not join Jack's wedding reception. As best man, he is expected to be at the reception to give a toast, and his flight is a major rupture. We never see Jack's reaction, but he never appears again in the film. Although unstated, one can assume Miles and Jack are no more, and Miles is free to live fully. The film ends not happily but hopefully for Miles, as he has changed from a man who passively (if unhappily) accepted the hard knocks life handed him to a man who literally is knocking on the door to his future. Truly excellent! Oh, and I make my own videos under the RU-vid channel: Lyverge. Best! Lyonel
Hey Script Sleuth, just wanted to say that this is my favorite movie of all time and I've watched it dozens of times. But your explanation of how Miles solves his internal conflict and learns to live in the present moment blew my mind! I never thought about the ending this way! You are a true scholar!
The novel is a great read, has a few plot points that didn't make it into the screenplay. Sideways is brilliant on so many levels - perfectly cast, beautiful locations, the legendary Virginia Madsen's monologue ... a gem of a film . Thank you for the analysis, you have a new subscriber.
@@zenpanda25 I think the screenplay brought out a lot of wonderful humanity in the characters that felt a bit unexplored in the book. Thank you for joining the Script Sleuth gang!
"Sideways" can be interpreted in so many ways, and, because of the movies complexity, they would all be right. I lived in Solvang for ten years, so the movie holds a special place for me and the scenes have a personal texture to them. It was the best place I have ever lived. The characters represent the majority of the viewers so we can identify with each of them. One of the most poignant scenes is when Miles sneaks into the house to retrieve Jack's wallet and when he runs out there's Jack sound asleep. It speaks volumes for his character. Detached from reality.
So many amazing performances in this film...I thought Miles's reaction to hearing about Victoria's pregnancy was oscar-worthy by itself: you can see on his face and hear in his voice the realization that the last thing he had left to hold onto, after a week of disappointments and disasters, some "hope" about "maybe" getting back with his ex-wife, is irretrievably gone. It just flows across Giamatti's face and we can feel the crushing final blow as if it was hitting us ourselves.
Great movie to watch when you’re depressed. It’s very difficult to feel any worse than Miles did driving away from the wedding ceremony in that crunched up car.
Excellent analysis, sir! There’s just something about the dynamic juxtaposition of these two guys that get you hooked, nevertheless the fact that both are flawless at playing their character. The writing the directing, the acting - all top notch, and the film’s legacy will carry-on in both the world of wine and cinema. If only they can make a part two…
I have watched this film no less than 80 times, and honestly I missed some of these great insights. Miles's hypocrisy about the waitress and "Barely Legal", that somehow never occurred to me. Really enjoyed this video.
I love this film; have watched it many times. This analysis is very thought provoking. I usually work in the art department so don't go this deep. nicely done.
Great analysis! I have watched this film so many times and one of the things that really hit me hard was how much the film pushed the conflict and desire. Miles's friend would not give up on getting laid even after the beating with the helmet. That's what got me. It was such a powerful lesson that I still feel it everytime I see the movie or hear about the movie. Miles is self-destructive but it doesn't stop him from being pro-active. Sharp, concise analysis.
I appreciated this analysis but have one quibble: His drinking the fancy wine out of a styrofoam cup was to convey utter hopelessness and despair. It was the total defeat of meaning and purpose in his life. That's how I took it anyhow. That scene rocked me.
I feel his dispensing with formality (a proper glass/setting in a burger joint) were illustrative of becoming aware all of the bullshit he'd been telling himself about "when things get perfect... I'll drink the '61 Cheval then and life will be grand." In the process of waiting for perfection he'd been missing out on life and that he finally realized it was okay to be human and fail. It was his revelatory moment. It just took Victoria to shake it loose. Once he admitted his fallibility, MAYA called. OMG. I've met Rex. Yeah, he's Miles alright. Brilliant, flawed. I stepped away from that lifestyle completely.
Beautifully done analysis of one of my all-time favorite films -- your concision and clarity model other important qualities of screenwriting. I'd love to see your thoughts on The Big Lebowski , Erin Brokovich, Cast Away, or perhaps The Apartment.
Thanks for the nice words. Your list of suggestions is superb. Luckily, I've already done The Apartment: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t8EE7q0j2Qg.html
A terrific analysis of a wholly engaging film... and now I know why! (at least a little better, anyway). Those are all points that I had never thought about. Thank you! FYI I subbed to see what other great movies you are analyzing... 🤙
I love this movie for not the usual reasons. My Grandparents took me to many of these locations when I was a child. The Windmill Inn where Jack and Miles stay is where I spent a couple nights of my honeymoon. The only thing that would have made this movie better for me is if Miles and Jack had a bowl of split pea soup at Anderson's.
@@ScriptSleuth I can somewhat agree with that, however it is impossible not to see the actors when reading the books… I saw the movies first… for me its not and either or, love the movie dearly… love books…
I have always thought one of the most alarming, yet sneakily important scenes in the movie, was Miles stealing the money from his mother. Had that not happened, it would have been too easy to "take his side" over Jack. Because he does this ....EARLY in the movie, the audience has a .... distrust or distain for Miles and his motives. It is his job, to win them back, which by the end he does. BIG time...
I personally didn’t experience anything positive when he cracked open that bottle of wine and drink it out of a Styrofoam cup. I understand what Virginia Madison said, but it felt like he was completely defeated.
I wish you had not "assumed" we all know what exposition means. Had to wiki it. Exposition = insertion of background information. Now, you make perfect sense. I can un-press "pause" now and continue. Otherwise, great review.
Great analysis, but like some others I disagree about the ending. I see that moment of him drinking his prized wine at the fast food restaurant as being at his lowest, but also his most honest. Once he hears about his ex wife being pregnant he stops caring about all the pretensions for why he likes wine and all the elite snobby culture that comes along with it. The sad truth is the real reason he drinks wine is because it gets him drunk.
Good point. I go back to what Maya tells him when he says why he's waiting to open the bottle of Cheval Blanc: she tells him, "The day you open a bottle of '61 Cheval Blanc, THAT'S the special occasion." So I see it as accepting that he'll never get back together with Victoria and moving on with his life. Notice the spring in his step as he runs up the stairs to get the bottle and finally enjoy it. He doesn't chug it in the restaurant; he savors every sip.
💯. People are lucky when that happens. The get closer to their true selves, IMO. If they find out the delusions that drive them and that they had based their life upon then they can change.
Great video, excellent analysis. There is something I disagree on though, just one point of contention. I think your reading of Miles drinking the 1961 bottle is too optimistic. I didn't see it as him being able to move on, I saw it as a sign of upcoming suicide. Suicidal people often try to "wrap things up" before they actually go through with it, giving away their possessions and such. I think he did that with the 1961, and was planning on suicide soon until Maya called. But it's just up to interpretation ofc. Great video 👍
@@ScriptSleuth I think it's not so sudden a process but more a gradual thing. He was at first maybe too timid to actually go through with it. He's implied suicidal thoughts when he mentioned he wasn't significant enough to commit suicide. I think he was either planning it, or half-planning it, or going about his life because not doing it would be too much effort. I think a suicide was definitely not improbable for Miles had Maya not called. That's why the call has such emotional impact on the audience, because it subverts their expectations of his impending suicide by giving him something to live for.
Seems to me he was expressing his anger and frustration. He had nothing to look forward to, no special day to save 61 cheval blanc for. Maybe he was saving it for Victoria, he hoped to get back together with her. I don’t think it’s about letting go of the past at all
Do screen writers think like you do when are writing? Or do all of these emotionally interesting tensions just happen unconsciously as the writer burns up his key board...? Goldman claims he wrote Butch Cassidy in 3 weeks....How long did it take to write Sideways? The dialogues just seem to flow so easily - like water down hill...Just love your selexctions...How about the Big Labowski?
Great question. All of these great screenwriters consistently display these expert techniques, to the point where you definitely can't say they lucked into them. They know what they're doing.
It's funny, in the screenplay they actually show a scene of Miles crossing the River Styx and going to the dark side. Probably a good idea they cut it from the film!
Wrong analysis. Miles is angry that meeting women and getting them into bed is extremely difficult and requires work and filtering. Jacks character finds all these things easy. That’s a recipe for disaster. Miles is smarter than Jack, and Jack is good with women. Miles has had so much rejection and pain and Jack floats through life so Miles obviously hates him. There is still a friendship between the two and they both need each other for different reasons.
Wow, really good points including some things I had not considered or noticed! I literally just rewatched the movie for the umpteenth time and also the commentary track. I have also read the novel and its sequel(s.) So, making me go “aha!” was no mean task lol! I am now a new subscriber. Cheers!
Just read the book finally ( been a fan of the film since it came out just way too lazy to actually go read the book. Was class. Want to get the sequel now is it any good in your estimation ?
@@JonJonJonJonJonJonJonJon Vertical, the sequel, is a bit odd and depressing, but a worthwhile read for a fan. It was hard for me to read without picturing the actors in my mind. Such a great movie. The third book can be skipped imho.
@@JonJonJonJonJonJonJonJon I have read all three books several times, so here is my opinion on each...Sideways is a fantastic book. If you like the film, you'll love the book. Vertical has its ups and downs, but the main thing is, long story short, be sure you get the original book. If you see the subtitle"Passion and pinot on the Oregon trail" please don't get that one. As for Sideways 3, Jack, Laura, and Maya make only brief appearances- the book is mostly Rex, the novelist, giving his views on men-and-women relationships, which is a lot more interesting than it might sound.
When I read the gambit - "The Day after Yesturday"...."Isnt that today? "I]t just seems so contrived...this is kind of humor I create after smoking some good bud...,Then realize how weak it is when I sober up....but when I see the scene - its really truly funny... Ummm - great acting and directing saved it? Your thoughts?
