I decided to watch Sideways (2004) again because it had been a few years since the last time I saw it. Man, I sure was happy I did because it was even better than I remembered it was. I think it’s one of the rare instances when a movie deserves all of the critical and commercial success it attains. It’s loaded with everything you could ask for in a film…humor, wit, pathos, drama, knowledge, entertainment, and on and on.
For me, the best scene in the movie was when Maya (played exquisitely by Oscar nominated Virginia Madsen) asks Miles (The glorious Paul Giamatti, also Oscar nominated) why he was so into Pinot. It’s not just about wine and grapes. This scene is about so much more. You can see it in their eyes. He was talking about himself, about love and life itself. This is one of the best acted and best written scenes ever. It sums up the movie’s main theme that we are like wine, not only do we get better with time as we age as the cliché goes, but more importantly we (like wine) also peak and then begin our decline.
Here’s the scene… Salute!
Here is the entire scene
Maya: You know, can I ask you a personal question, Miles?
Miles Raymond: Sure.
Maya: Why are you so in to Pinot?
Miles Raymond: [laughs softly]
Maya: I mean, it’s like a thing with you.
Miles Raymond: [continues laughing softly]
Miles Raymond: Uh, I don’t know, I don’t know. 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.
Here’s why Maya loves wine
Here’s the Trailer, clips, interviews and more!
