SIDEWAYS
Released: October 20, 2004
Miles Raymond (played by one of my fave actors Paul Giamatti), a recently divorced failed writer, takes his formerly famous actor pal Jack (Thomas Haden Church from the 90s TV show "Wings") on a weeklong drive to 'wine country' in California, where they explore their failed relationships and lives. The antics they find themselves in, often knowingly doing silly things, is what kept me attentive and laughing throughout the plus-two hour running time. The support cast is great - the radiant Virginia Madsen is rescued from an over decade long neglect in B-movie land and she shines here, as does Canadian Sandra Oh. This is from director Alexander Payne who has given us the excellent "About Schmidt" and "Election" starring Reese Witherspoon. Worth seeing for the interaction between Giamatti and Church, this is one that is off the beaten Hollywood path but well worth seeking out.
123 Minutes
Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox