Sideways
Have you ever seen a movie where one of the characters is so much like you that you feel sick to your stomach because that character's actions are drawn out into scrutiny and you can see everything that you wish you could change about yourself?
Dan and I saw Sideways last night. His dad had told us that the two of us had to see it together because the character dynamic was all-too-descriptive of us. Paul Giamatti's character Miles was a struggling writer who's neurotic, who needs structure and order in his life and who looks for something more meaningful in women than an easy fuck. Thomas Haden Church's character Jack was a real relaxed actor, whose impending marriage the next week compelled him to go on a road trip with Miles, his ultimate goal being to get the two of them laid, and Miles' ultimate goal being to hit all of these wineries, go to wine tastings, play golf, and relax. Miles was self-critical and self-deprecating and self-pitying at times, but he was a good guy at heart. Jack was spontaneous and laid back and flighty. Dan was a sort of hybrid of the two characters (I saw more Jack than Miles in him), and I was definitely all Miles. Watching Miles beat himself up over failing to make a move on a woman who's obviously got feelings for him just made me shift uncomfortably in my seat; christ, I've done that more times than I can count. In the way that you're made to sort of pity Miles throughout the movie, I wanted to change myself. I wanted to stop being self-critical and I wanted to stop thinking everything to death and just start feeling and acting. I know it's hard, but I need to change. Otherwise I'm going to die a young, lonely virgin. What is it they say in Hamlet? Actors hold a mirror up to nature?
The movie was fantastic, though. Serious and funny and poignant all in equal parts, and really well-acted. I'd definitely recommend it. Just remember: fat, ugly sex is never attractive; only funny.
Dan and I saw Sideways last night. His dad had told us that the two of us had to see it together because the character dynamic was all-too-descriptive of us. Paul Giamatti's character Miles was a struggling writer who's neurotic, who needs structure and order in his life and who looks for something more meaningful in women than an easy fuck. Thomas Haden Church's character Jack was a real relaxed actor, whose impending marriage the next week compelled him to go on a road trip with Miles, his ultimate goal being to get the two of them laid, and Miles' ultimate goal being to hit all of these wineries, go to wine tastings, play golf, and relax. Miles was self-critical and self-deprecating and self-pitying at times, but he was a good guy at heart. Jack was spontaneous and laid back and flighty. Dan was a sort of hybrid of the two characters (I saw more Jack than Miles in him), and I was definitely all Miles. Watching Miles beat himself up over failing to make a move on a woman who's obviously got feelings for him just made me shift uncomfortably in my seat; christ, I've done that more times than I can count. In the way that you're made to sort of pity Miles throughout the movie, I wanted to change myself. I wanted to stop being self-critical and I wanted to stop thinking everything to death and just start feeling and acting. I know it's hard, but I need to change. Otherwise I'm going to die a young, lonely virgin. What is it they say in Hamlet? Actors hold a mirror up to nature?
The movie was fantastic, though. Serious and funny and poignant all in equal parts, and really well-acted. I'd definitely recommend it. Just remember: fat, ugly sex is never attractive; only funny.