After much persuation from one of my coworkers I recently rented and watched "Sideways",a movie about wine, midlife crisis and whimsical lifestyle that defines American civilization

I have to say that despite very intelligent and funny moments through the 2 hours of this movie, this winner of many awards and touted as the best indie film of the year, was overall a disappointment. The main characters are two men in the their forties, one of them a failed writer Miles and the other, a fading actor Jack who is about to wed in a week. The two go on a trip accross the wine country in Southern California in an old Saab which pretty much represents their own lives.

Miles is obsessed with Pinot Noir. He is divorced, defeated and is a borderline alchoholic. His last hope is the novel that he dreams to get published as he anxiously waits to hear from his literary agent. Jack, is engaged to the daughter of a rich Real Estate businessman, but is aware that his acting career is past its best days. Far from a wine affictionado, his intention is to have guilt free sex before beginning a boring monogamous life. As the story progresses, we learn more about the past life of Miles. His complete lack of self esteem and his emotional dependence on wine. It also brings to light Jack's chemerical nature where he goes to any length to satisfy his venereal pleasures.

None of the actors come out very convincing. Maya, played by Virginia Madsen who plays a waitress who Miles tries to entreat, is probably the better of the four main characters. The character Stephanie, who works at a winery, played by Sandra Oh has very little acting potential. Paul Giamati has his momets ("I am not drinking f**king Merlot!", "Are you chewing gum?") where he passes of a wine connoisseur. He fails however, to portray the despondency that the writers would have intended in the character.

The film shines occassionaly. Like when Jack offers to drive Miles' car only to intentionally slam it on a tree to create an alibi for his broken nose. And the scene where the two friends get into a a skirmish with a group of impatient golfers. The best of all is when we see Miles waiting in his car outside the house of jack's fiance, upon his intstructions, so that they would believe hi story about the accident.

Alexander Payne's characters are not saints, but are likeable because of the wistful sorrow about them. This is probably his best movie, and much like "About Schmidt". Not unlike the others, "Sideways" too ends with a glimmer of hope in Miles' otherwise pitiful life.

Sideways was supposed to be a vintage, but at the end it left an aftertaste of the $12 Carbernet/Shiraz blend you find in the shelves of your corner liquor store. No sediments but still ordinary.