Mid-life crisis can be portrayed in different ways. Most directors decide between drama and comedy, Payne does both. Two male losers around forty, the one seemingly more successful (but not really) go on a week-long trip to California's wine country before one of them marries. Emanating depression, regret and grief, Paul Giamatti plays Miles as a sad man who tries to be funny and happy but does not know how to do it. It is very touching. Thomas Haden Church's Jack is a man-child, looking for sex and fun to fill his loneliness. They meet two women, they make mistakes, they long for love, get some and lose it again. All this is presented in a most humane and delicate way. We shouldn't like these two narcissists as much as we do but Payne is no one for judging. Thus this tenderly funny film ends with hope against the odds.
Review of Sideways
