Sideways
Director: Alexander Payne
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
The film: If the US state of California has been planning to shoot any promos for its wine country, it should save itself the time and expense and simply distribute copies of this DVD. Although Sideways is far from an academic or even in-depth took at Californian wine production or tourism, the glorious landscapes and light that flood much of this buddy movie may be enough to motivate some viewers to visit.
Director of photography Phedon Papamichael does a fine job of presenting the countryside at its best, but isn't scared to allow sunbursts to dapple the screen when the two protagonists criss-cross the relatively empty roads of northern California's vineyard country.
Against this backdrop, two ex-college mates - now losing hair and gaining weight - set off for what will become a week full of mid-life crises. The ostensible reason for the trip is a lads' break, one week before Jack (Thomas Haden Church) is due to wed. Miles (Paul Giamatti), something of a wine buff, is the instigator of the sojourn, planning a week when he can introduce Jack - normally a casual beer drinker - to the sophisticated joys of wine appreciation and a little education in how it's produced. He's also written into the itinerary some relaxed golf.
Jack, however, soon makes it known that a chief priority of his holiday is to get his leg over - not only that, but he makes it a mission that Miles should do the same. Miles, however, is in mope mode, after his recent divorce.