Miles, played by Paul Giamatti who was the peculiar Harvey Pekar in American Splendor, is a middle age English teacher and a never published writer. He is your ordinary neighbor who lives one day to another and seems to be insignificant in every single aspect in life. He is the quiet type with occasional drink-and-talk outburst. But if you get to know him, he is more than a plain face nobody. Miles is not a character you’d like the first time you see him, but you’d gradually understand him. His ambitions, his frastrations silently protested inside of him and when he explained why he adore Pinot Noir, you know he doesn’t just love Pinot, he identifies with Pinot.
Um, it’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It’s uh, it’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It’s, you know, it’s not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it’s neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet. – Miles Reymond in Sideways(2004)
The movie was mainly about the getaway week Miles and his college pal Jack spent together, which was sort of like a bachlor party. It began with Miles being woken up by his neighbor on a Saturday morning, realizing that he was very late for his date with Jack but still taking his time to poo and shower and buy breakfast. (Very disagreeable.) Their idea of this trip were apparently different. Jack was hoping to make the most of his last week of freedom which involved with a lot of wine (good or bad) and women. Miles, on the other hand, wished to give Jack a quality time with quality wine and friendship. During this week of craziness, they had good times and bad, they encouraged each other and fought, but they never abandoned one another, dispite how different they were. It was only a few pages in the book of their lives. A lot had happened before the week, and a lot are gonna happen afterwards. You got a glance of one moment of life and it touched you because it was so real and filled with all kinds of emotions, ups and downs.
It’s said that in the book, Pickett used a lot of wine metaphor to describe life, sounds interesting. I’m gonna read the novel after I finish Jane Austen Book Club.
I really enjoyed this movie. I was able to identify with at least one aspect of each of the characters; some more than others.
Let me know what you think of the book…I may add it to my list. Right now I read so little for pleasure that my backlog consists of *3* 3-foot piles of books in my library…though I suppose that just means I have more to look forward to.
:-D