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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 2, 2004 MOVIES 'Sideways' breaks from convention "Sideways" is a nugget of a film. The writing is eloquent, the characters, to a person, are interesting, genuine, and the story, in its own way, is surprisingly compelling. First this is a road trip movie. A familiar device used by Hollywood screenwriters to move characters from one experience to the next. But there is nothing familiar or contrived about this film. It is unique and it is wonderful. Two friends, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), take a wine-tasting trip from San Diego to the northern wine country, a bachelor party of sorts for Jack who is getting married in less than a week. They are an improbable pair. Miles is morose, slow to smile, and filled with regret for a life that has brought him deep disappointment and pain. Jack is the quintessential beach dude, shallow, irresponsible, whose mission on this trip, his last great adventure before exchanging rings, is to hook up with a woman; he insistently wants the same for Miles. Jack's view of the world is a tad reductionistic and he is convinced that logging sack time with a lady would be the perfect antidote for Miles' maudlin, truncated outlook. Miles, a nascent writer, wants only to sample some interesting wines and hear from his agent, telling him that his book has been picked up by a publisher. Nowhere is the contrast between these two demonstrated more clearly than when they belly up to a winery's bar to taste the latest pinot noir. Miles is a connoisseur, a serious graper. Jack, on the other hand, doesn't sip or sniff or swish, pausing pregnantly, while reaching for insider adjectives. He simply gulps and says, "Hit me again." "Sideways" is a sweet drama and there are moments when the weight of Miles' life, his sense of existential ennui, are so great that you believe he will never smile again. And then there are comedic vignettes that are so unexpected, so funny, giving the movie a new and delightful dimension. Consider the courage it took on the part of the director, Alexander Payne, to cast Paul Giamatti in the lead role of Miles. Giamatti, by every measure, goes against type when it comes to Hollywood leading men. He's not a face man. His eyes slightly protrude, he's balding, soft around the middle, and his buns are, well, certainly not of steel. He is Tom Cruise's nerdy, lame brother. The one who got ditched at the school dance. And yet here he is, perfectly cast as a romantic lead, in a movie that in its entirety goes against type. This film never backs away from life -- nothing is sanitized, nor does it flinch from the humanity of it all. Life, truth be told, is never glossy and those who people its corridors are never superbly svelte or marvelously lucid. At least not most of the time. Things are often a mess. As to the writing: There are moments in this film when the writing is breathtakingly good. The language is a wonder to listen to. In one moving scene, Miles and Maya (Madsen) are sitting on a dimly lighted front porch, tentatively sharing their deep and abiding love of wine. Suddenly wine, most especially pinot noir, becomes a lovely metaphor for Miles' life, and he discusses it in a penetratingly honest way. Maya reciprocates and her monologue about what wine has come to mean to her is eloquent and touching. It is one moment among many that make this small movie so very exceptional and one not to be missed. Alexander Alexander the Great, a relentless conqueror who by the age of 32 had amassed the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Past and present collide to weave a tapestry of triumphs and tragedies in which childhood memories and Alexander's rise to power unfold side by side the later day expansion of his empire, its gradual decline and ultimate downfall. Directed by Oliver Stone ("Nixon", "Wall Street", "Platoon") Collin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer R for violence and some sexuality, nudity, 176 min. Being Julia A London stage actress entering her 40's begins having a nervous breakdown that includes a clandestine affair with a man half her age. Bening gives a tour de force performance in this costume comedy/drama about the joys and sorrows of life and art, set in the late 1930's. Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Greenwood R for some sexuality, 104min. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason The story picks up soon after the first film, and already Bridget Jones is becoming insecure in her relationship with accomplished and supportive Mark Darcy. Why shouldn't she feel inadequate when every woman in London, including Mark's new drop-dead beautiful intern, wants to lure him away from the plumpish, opinionated, sometimes inappropriate Bridget? And then Bridget's former boss, womanizing heartthrob Daniel, comes back into her life. Renee Zellwegger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones R for language and some sexual content, 105 min. Christmas with the Kranks Fed up with the commerciality of Christmas, and man and his wife decide to skip the holiday and take a vacation. But when the daughter decides at the last minute to come home, he must put together a holiday celebration. Based on the novel "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Akroyd, Erik Per Sullivan, Cheech Marin PG for brief language and suggestive content, 99 min. Incredibles Bob used to be one of the world's greatest superheroes, but fifteen years later Bob and his wife, another formerly famous superhero, have retreated to the suburbs to live normal lives with their three kids. Itching to get back into action, Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island. Voice talents of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Brad Bird. PG for action violence, 115 min. +5 minute short subject Motorcycle Diaries In Spanish with English subtitles An adaptation of a journal written by Ernesto "Che" Guevara when he was 23 years old. He and his friend, seeking adventure before graduating college, embark on a road trip across Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Venezuela in 1951/52. The two friends' lives run parallel for a while but, by the end of the film, each man's destiny has been decided. Directed by Walter Salles ("Central Station"). Gael Garcia Bernal, Rodrigo De la Serna. R for language, 126 min. National Treasure Ben Franklin Gates tries to fulfill a promise made by an ancestor in the Andrew Jackson administration. The oath was to locate and protect an ancient treasure that legend says is mapped on the back of the original Declaration of Independence. Directed by Jon Turtletaub ("Phenomenon", "While You were Sleeping") Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Harvey Keitel, Sean Bean PG for action, violence and some scary images, 131 min. Polar Express A boy who still believes in Santa Claus despite the skepticism of his peers, is rewarded for his loyalty when a train pulls up in front of his house on Christmas Eve to take him to the North Pole. Written and directed by Robert Zemickis ("Castaway", "Forrest Gump", "Back to the Future"). Based on the popular children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. Tom Hanks (digitized animation). G/100 min. Primer Two young engineers conduct experiments on their own time in a garage. When they accidentally discover a process that could enable them to do and to have seemingly anything they want, complications and consequences ensue. This Grand Jury Prize Winner at Sundance was shot on a budget of $7000 by self-taught, first-time filmmaker Shane Carruth Shane Carruth, David Sullivan PG-13 for brief language, 78 min. Ray The life story of Ray Charles, born in the segregated South in 1930, he went blind from glaucoma at the age of seven. A pianist, singer, composer, and bandleader, Charles is credited with the early development of soul music. He also fought for civil rights, was a womanizer, battled a heroin addiction and survived numerous professional clashes with record companies. Directed by Taylor Hackford Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Dashon Howard, Richard Schiff, Regina King. PG-13 for depiction of drug addiction, sexuality and some thematic elements, 152 min. SpongeBob SquarePants Movie The irrepressible SpongeBob tries to retrieve King Neptune's stolen crown after his boss, Mr. Krab, is framed. Voice talents of Tom Kenny, Alec Baldwin PG for some mild crude humor, 88 min. Sideways A struggling, 40ish novelist is frustrated over his stalled career and the fact that his struggling actor buddy is about to get married. With their emotional baggage in tow, the two set off for a week of debauchery in the Napa Valley wine country before the wedding. Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh R for language, some strong sexual content and nudity, 125 min. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams