Friday, Dec. 17, 2004
Sideways
A nerdy oenophile (Paul Giamatti) and his feckless actor pal (Thomas Haden Church) take a leisurely drive through California's wine country on the weekend before the latter's wedding. Along the way, they encounter life, principally in the form of two wise, sexy women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh), and emerge from their excellent adventure in a state something like adulthood. Director Alexander Payne's movie is a very small pleasure, but an authentic one. This may be the year's most easily-lovable movie.